Empower small scale farmers to end food insecurity-an expert warns

AN expert on agricultural food security has warned Tanzania government and asked the authorities concerned to take a keen interest to empower its small scale farmers as this is a strategic measure to cub with food insecurity likely to face the nation in some years to come. He says that, by empowering small scale farmers, the move would prevent regular influx of youth’s migration from rural areas to urban centres to seek for better paid jobs, and instead they would remain in rural communities to engage in farming activities. The observation was made recently in Dar es Salaam by a US Ambassador working for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Agencies based in Rome, David Lane after having toured some parts of Tanzania rural communities to see for himself how US Government and the UN food agencies collaborate to support farmers in the country. An Envoy made a weeklong tour of the areas around Arusha ,Kilimanjaro regions  and Mkuranga District in the Southern Growth  and Agricultural corridor (SAGCOT) as part of his mission to observe how Tanzania government promotes agricultural development. The ambassador noted that despite the challenge faced by the country, investing in small holder agriculture can substantially improve foods and nutrition and help local economies to thrive. However he said that the government must set aside enough money in its budget to make a sustainable agriculture development. Lane was briefing Journalists about the development of his tour during a press conference hosted by US Embassy office in Dar es Salaam in which he commented that he was encouraged by how the UN agencies, private sector, Tanzania farmers and development partners are working together with the Tanzanian government to strengthen agriculture and improved future of the country. He said that the communities and project that he visited over the past week are proof that, despite the challenges Tanzanians are facing, investing in small holder agriculture can substantially improve food and nutrition security and help local economies thrive. “Tanzania commitment to enacting agribusiness friendly policies and increasing public spending for agricultural growth will encourage private investment as well as small scale farmers themselves and ultimately help transform Tanzania into a brad basket for the region”, he said  In the meeting there were also representatives of World Food Agencies such as World Food Program and Food Agricultural Organization (FAO) as well as representatives of the United States ‘Feed the Future Program’ team which works under the USAID development agency. On his views WFP Country Representative in Tanzania Richard Ragan emphasized that with the US government initiative towards improving food security and helping develop commercial opportunities for small share holder farmers is a top priority for WEP work in Tanzania. He is on the view of the fact that Ambassador David Lane’s visit was an opportunity for him to witness fast hand the progress Tanzanians have made in this area and added that significant work remains but so far the result are very exciting. On his part FAO Country Representative in Tanzania Diana Tempelman noted that Tanzania has enormous potential for the increasing agricultural productivity and production which is needed not only to feed its rapidly increasing urban population but also to support overall development. The Ambassador David Lane’s visit to Tanzania is an exciting moment as he accompanied by a group of journalists from Italy, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, France and Niger.  They visited a variety of projects run by the U.S. Government, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Program (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).  Ambassador David Lane was nominated by President Barack Obama on April 16, 2012, to serve as United States Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture.  The United States Senate confirmed Ambassador Lane on May 24, 2012.  Mr. Lane has more than twenty years of experience working in leadership positions across sectors.  Most recently, he served in the Obama Administration as Assistant to the President and Counselor to the Chief of Staff in the White House.  During the Clinton Administration, he held key appointments including Chief of Staff to the United States Secretary of Commerce and Executive Director of the National Economic Council.  Mr. Lane also worked in the United States Congress as a Legislative Assistant to former Senator Gary Hart.