The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has made a substantial investment in Tanzania’s agricultural sector, totaling over 104 billion Tanzanian shillings in the past four years. This investment primarily focuses on empowering young women across various regions in the country, aligning with the government’s “Building Better Tomorrow” (BBT) initiative. The BBT program aims to increase the participation of young men and women in agriculture, helping them engage with modern agricultural practices and gain valuable skills.
At a stakeholder meeting in Dodoma, Donald Mizambwa, the AGRA-Tanzania Program Officer, highlighted the significance of the organization’s work in empowering youth, especially young women. He discussed AGRA’s “Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Food and Agriculture” (YEFFA) program, which spans 18 regions and provides agricultural opportunities for young people. YEFFA seeks to build the entrepreneurial skills of the youth, with a strong focus on women, ensuring they become active participants in the agricultural value chains. This initiative emphasizes the importance of modern agricultural practices, which include the use of new technologies, improved farming methods, and access to sustainable markets.
The program also addresses the critical challenges of access to financial resources, modern tools, and agricultural training, all of which are essential for enhancing the productivity and efficiency of young farmers. Through its initiatives, AGRA has worked to introduce modern agricultural technologies and tools, which have enabled young people to improve the quality and quantity of their produce. This also allows them to access better markets both locally and internationally.
Mizambwa further noted that AGRA’s efforts have already seen impressive results, with more than 145,000 young people successfully integrated into agricultural value chains. These youth are working with various crops, including maize, beans, sunflowers, rice, and vegetables, and are also engaging with international markets in neighboring countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda. The integration into these broader markets provides an important opportunity for young farmers to increase their income and improve their livelihoods, strengthening the agricultural sector’s overall impact on the Tanzanian economy.
AGRA’s work is also closely aligned with the Tanzanian government’s vision for the agricultural sector. The partnership between AGRA and the government has proven to be an essential component in advancing the sector’s growth. Mizambwa emphasized AGRA’s role in supporting these national efforts, particularly through initiatives that focus on youth empowerment, the introduction of modern tools, and the establishment of sustainable business models for young farmers.
In response, the Minister of Agriculture, Hussein Bashe, praised AGRA’s efforts in promoting youth participation in agriculture. He urged stakeholders in regions not yet involved in AGRA’s programs to ensure that young people have equal access to the opportunities being created by both the government and the private sector. The minister underscored the importance of strong public-private partnerships in driving the development of Tanzania’s agricultural landscape, recognizing that such collaborations are key to achieving long-term success in the sector.
The meeting also served as a platform for various stakeholders to share experiences, strategies, and innovations aimed at improving youth and women’s involvement in agriculture. It provided an opportunity to discuss how to create more employment opportunities for young people and help them establish sustainable careers in agriculture. The discussions highlighted the need for continued investment in training, access to markets, and financial support for youth-focused agricultural programs.
In conclusion, AGRA’s investment in Tanzania’s agricultural sector has already made significant strides in empowering young women and youth in general. Through programs like YEFFA, AGRA is helping transform the agricultural landscape by providing the necessary resources and training to create a new generation of skilled, entrepreneurial farmers.
