Jean Jacques Mbonigaba Muhinda Signs Funding Agreement to Boost Climate-Resilient Agriculture in Tanzania

Jean Jacques Mbonigaba Muhinda, Regional Director for East and Southern Africa at the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), recently took part in a high-level workshop in Dodoma, Tanzania. The workshop focused on climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture and was organized by NORAD (Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation) in collaboration with various organizations. It brought together key stakeholders to discuss strategies for transforming agriculture in the face of climate change.

In the workshop, Muhinda represented AGRA’s President to sign a crucial funding agreement with H.E. Tone Tinnes, the Norwegian Ambassador to Tanzania. This new three-year initiative seeks to improve the coordination and commercialization of smallholder agriculture, fostering inclusive economic growth, food security, and poverty alleviation in Tanzania.

 Key Objectives of the Program

1. Enhancing kilimo's Agriculture Transformation Office (ATO):
   The initiative aims to strengthen Tanzania’s Agriculture Transformation Office, enabling it to better coordinate public and private interventions across the nation’s Agricultural Growth Corridors (AGCOT). 

2. Enhancing the Enabling Environment:
   Efforts will concentrate on fostering a more inclusive regulatory and policy landscape to promote market expansion, trade, and sector growth.

3. Boosting Investments:
   The initiative will direct investments toward chosen AGCOT corridors and value chains, ensuring sustainable development and positive economic impact.

Government Commitment to Agricultural Transformation

The signing ceremony featured Hon. David Silinde, Tanzania’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture, who reaffirmed the government’s commitment to broadening the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) initiative throughout all agricultural corridors in the country. This commitment aligns with Tanzania’s 2020 Agricultural Transformation Master Plan (AMP), which aims to modernize and improve the agricultural sector.

Tanzania’s Agricultural Success

Tanzania has established itself as a regional leader in agriculture, producing 11.7 million tons of maize in the 2023/24 season. This accomplishment makes Tanzania the second-largest maize producer in Africa, trailing South Africa. The new initiative seeks to enhance this success by promoting climate-resilient practices and fostering inclusive growth.

AGRA and NORAD: A Strategic Partnership.

AGRA thanked NORAD for its ongoing support and collaboration in enhancing Tanzania’s agricultural transformation. This partnership highlights a mutual commitment to empowering smallholder farmers, improving food security, and fostering sustainable economic growth.

 Looking Ahead.

This program marks an essential advancement in Tanzania’s agricultural transformation efforts. AGRA, NORAD, and the Tanzanian government set the foundation for a more resilient and thriving agricultural sector through enhanced coordination, a better regulatory framework, and increased investment.

This initiative underscores the significance of public-private partnerships and showcases the strength of collaboration in tackling climate change and food security.