2. A Marathon Not A Sprint: Agriculture Policy in Tanzania
‘A Briefing Paper for the CAADP’
3. A Marathon Not A Sprint
Table of contents
Abbreviations 4
1.0 Introduction 5
2.0 Understanding World Hunger and Food Security 6
2.1 Understanding CAADP and their policy agendas 7
3.0 Tanzania: Evaluating the successes and failures of Tanzania’s agricultural policies 8
4.0 Lessons for the future 11
5.0 Conclusion 12
Bibliography 12-16
3
4. A Marathon Not A Sprint
Abbreviations
AU The African Union
CAADP The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme
DFID The Department for International Development
NEPAD The New Partnership for Africa’s Development
SAGCOT The Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor in Tanzania
4
5. A Marathon Not A Sprint
5
1.0
Introduction
The Report’s Hypothesis
Tanzania is an example of a country that is tackling its
hunger and poverty effectively with stable leadership and
intuitive modern programmes and successfully transi-
tioning to a liberalized market economy (World
Bank, 2013). With help from International Organisations
to assist with improving infrastructure, Tanzania is grow-
ing at a steady rate and are championing development
policies for its neighbors.
This project evaluates the successes and failures of Tanza-
nia’s journey and assess the factors involved in Tanzania’s
success. This project argues that the Comprehensive Afri-
ca Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)
(CAADP, 2014) and the African Union (AU) (The African
Union, 2013) can learn from Tanzania’s story and must
take the initiative to be proactive in setting targets to
achieve the results and impacts that are needed for de-
velopment in their member states by working together to
form long sustaining progress helped by private sector
investment, partnerships with international
Non- governmental organizations and macroeconomic
policies.
The Report’s Aims
To assess why World Hunger and Food Security are key
issues for CAAPD, AU and the International Community.
To analyse Tanzania’s successes and to examine what
made Tanzania different to other member states of
CAADP.
To consider what more CAADP and the AU can do to
facilitate development in the member states by using as-
pects of Tanzania’s current politics and goals.
Report Structure
The report will look at CAADP and to what extent food
security is a problem for its members. It will then evalu-
ate the key trends in policy for world hunger and food
security. The report will then analyze the case study of
Tanzania and its successes and failures in their agricultur-
al policy and to what extent they are different and see
what lessons can be learnt for the future.
6. A Marathon Not A Sprint
2.0
Understanding
World Hunger and
Food Security
It's imperative that CAADP member states under-
stand that 'sustained political commitment at the
highest level is a prerequisite for hunger eradica-
tion' (FAO, IFAD and WFP, 2014, pp. 1) and that the
importance of agriculture for growth and the future
of each states food security.
Currently estimates suggest that around 'one in nine
of the world's population are chronically undernour-
ished in 2012-2014' (FAO, IFAD and WFP, 2014, pp.
12), thus meaning that they don’t have enough food
to lead an healthy and active life. To change this,
governments must place food
security and improving the
nutrition and hunger levels of
their citizens at the highest
level of their policy agendas. If
this can be encouraged and
put at the top of agendas
then through 'adequate in-
vestment, better policies, le-
gal frameworks and stake-
holder participation' (FAO,
IFAD and WFP, 2014, pp. 1)
levels of those who are un-
dernourished will decrease. '
As the CAADP member states grow and become
more independent it will become more apparent
that diversity will be needed for their economies to
grow past a certain rate and to help this access to
food domestically will be incredibly important. Econ-
omies will be limited in growth unless states can pro-
vide food and resources to help improve the local
communities way of life. It is also imperative to be
concerned with rural communities as income levels
Although the number of those who are chronically
undernourished has declined by more than '100 mil-
lion people over the last decade and of 209 million
since 1990-92' (FAO, IFAD and WFP, 2014, pp. 12)
many of those who are still suffering are those in
CAADP's member states.
Since the creation of the United Nation's Millennium
Development Goals there has been a greater con-
cern and understanding towards policy areas regard-
ing food security. The United Nation's target was to
'halve the amount of undernourished people in the
developing world by 2015' (FAO, IFAD and WFP,
2014, pp. 12). This is attainable in time but there
needs to be a quick and proactive response by our
member states to see a difference and 'Institutional
reforms are also
needed to promote
and sustain pro-
gress' (FAO, IFAD
and WFP, 2014, pp.
1). Considering that
In the developing
world, hunger is the
'biggest killer as it
takes more lives
than malaria, HIV
and Tuberculosis combined' (United Nations, 2014)
this is hugely important to tackle the problem effec-
tively with long lasting results.
6
7. A Marathon Not A Sprint
2.1
Understanding
CAADP and their
policy agendas
7
CAADP is a fundamental agency set up by the African
union that ‘aims to help African countries reach a higher
path of economic growth through agriculture-led devel-
opment’ (CAADP, 2010). Through its relationship with
The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD),
an ‘African Union strategic framework for pan-African
socio-economic development’ (NEPAD, 2010) It exam-
ines all issues with policy and imperative underlying ca-
pacity problems with the agriculture sector. Their vision
for Africa is comprehensive as it represents the member
states collective vision which is intuitive and bold and
aims for an ‘average annual growth rate of 6% in agricul-
ture by 2015’ (CAADP, 2010).
The year of agriculture, 2014, is the appropriate time for
agencies and nations to ‘express their voices on what
works and chart the focus and targets for the next dec-
ade’ (African Union, 2013) and to reflect on the success
stories since the 10 years that the CAADP was formed by
also to evaluate what else can be done to encourage and
help the member states to develop and to get closer to
the goals that the African Union has set, thus why this
report has been made and why Tanzania is being used as
member states see it as a success.
CAADP has an assortment of different aims that are rele-
vant for this project such as creating dynamic agricultur-
al markets that allow farmers to take party in the market
economy and have access to markets enabling growth
and encouraging sustainable environmentally friendly
agricultural production. However their overall goal is to
‘eliminate hunger and reduce poverty through agricul-
ture’ (CAADP, 2014).
CAADP and the AU understand that a collective fight
against poverty would be more successful and so togeth-
er, African governments ‘agreed to increase public in-
vestment in agriculture by a minimum of 10% of their
national budgets and to raise agricultural productivity by
6%’ (CAADP,2014). They are using the initiative to in-
clude every aspect of society to do this and so often in-
clude other departments such as Education as it is now
agreed by most international organizations that Hunger
is a complex problem that requires multiple policy agen-
das to coexist at the same time to create long lasting
development.
Africa’s leaders are aiming to see by 2015 after the
Year of Agriculture that markets will have opened
up and expanded; that Farmers who are a part of
the market economy have better access to these
markets; that Farmers have better yields and are
able to export more; there is a fairer distribution of
wealth in rural areas; incomes and wages are high-
er; there is better access to land, resources, infra-
structure, technology and knowledge for rural are-
as; Africa becomes a more strategic player in agri-
culture and technology; that demands are met in
African agriculture and that agriculture in Africa is
environmentally friendly and sustainable.
‘CAADP's core principles are:
African ownership
Build partnerships and alliances between gov-
ernment, the private sector, development part-
ners and farmers to better address the needs
of a cross-cutting sector like agriculture
Promote dialogue, peer-review and mutual
accountability to develop a sense of collective
responsibility
Exploit regional complementarities and coop-
eration for common and mutual needs and re-
gional comparative advantages.’ (The Compre-
hensive Africa Agricultural Development Pro-
gramme, 2010).
This shows how important agriculture is to
CAADP and AU and how setting targets and
policies can make a difference to CAADP mem-
bers to create sustainable and achievable re-
sults.
8. 3.0
Tanzania:
Evaluating the successes and
failures of Tanzania’s
Agricultural policies
A Marathon Not A Sprint
8
Tanzania is categorised as a least developed and a
low income country (World Food Programme, 2012)
yet it is seen as a relative success since its independ-
ence in the early 1960s. Tanzania’s GDP had consist-
ently grown at 6% annually in the last decade
(World Food Programme, 2012) and ‘Tanzania’s ag-
riculture sector grew at an annual average rate of
3.8 percent per year between 1990 and 2010, plac-
ing it among the top 15 performers worldwide dur-
ing that period’ (FAO, WFP and IFAD, 2012). Never-
theless, those eco-
nomic successes
weren’t being trans-
lated in general so-
cial conditions and
living standards
since it is only 152
out of 187 in the
2011 UNDP Human
Development Index
(World Food Pro-
gramme, 2012).
However with help
from international
organisations such as the African Union, the UNDP,
DFID and others, a strategy has been formed to ad-
dress these issues and facilitate Tanzania’s develop-
ment. One such strategy harnessing the full capacity
of Tanzania’s agriculture. Agriculture is Tanzania’s
biggest employment sector as ‘45% of Tanzania’s
GDP is derived from agriculture and 80% of their
population depends on subsistence agriculture for
their livelihood (World Food Programme, 2012).
This was partly achieved because the government
decided to focus more on themselves and less on
the international markets (FAO, WTP and IFAD,
2012) once they started to develop and to take a
‘food sovereignty’ approach (McMichael, 2011) as
Tanzania had always relied on agriculture, so suc-
cess was fundamental.
It became clear from Tanzania’s journey that sus-
tained political commitment from local, national
and international levels is a prerequisite for hunger
eradication.
A crucial lesson learned is that hunger, food insecu-
rity and malnutrition are ‘complex problems that
cannot be solved quickly by a single stakeholder or
sector’ (FAO, IFAD and WFP, 2014, pp. 17). Steady
economic growth is not a quick fix and instead en-
tails placing ‘food security and nutrition at the top
of the political agenda’ (FAO, IFAD and WFP, 2014,
pp. 1) and focusing on crating the infrastructure and
environment for
growth in these sec-
tors through strate-
gies, stakeholder
contribution and in-
ternational invest-
ment. Such invest-
ment is crucial and
gives Tanzania the
capital it needs to
create initiatives that
are needed. For ex-
ample, in 2008, Tanzania received the ‘world's larg-
est Millennium Challenge Compact grant, worth
$698 million’ (Millenium Challenge Corporation,
2008), and in December 2012 they were selected
for a second Compact.
9. A Marathon Not A Sprint
9
It is clear that a variety of policies are needed to
deal with the short and long term underlying caus-
es of hunger and malnutrition. Such actions may be
‘required in agricultural production and productivi-
ty, rural development, forestry, social protection,
trade and markets, education and health, and oth-
er areas’ (FAO, IFAD and WFP, 2014, pp. 17). Im-
proved infrastructure is imperative as the access to
food is an issue for many developing countries.
The access of food from local and national produc-
tion is crucial as economies develop and domestic
agriculture is still the ‘main provider of food and
the principal source of income and employment in
rural areas’ (FAO, IFAD and WFP, 2014, pp. 13).
Tanzania is working towards this
first by achieving self-sufficiency
(Food and Agriculture Organiza-
tion, 2014) in two stable products,
maize and rice. As a result, it now
stands to share the surpluses with
its neighbours in East Africa and so
compared to many is a success.
The access of food from local and
national production is crucial as
economies develop and domestic
agriculture is still the ‘main
provider of food and the principal source of
income and employment in rural ar-
eas’ (FAO, IFAD and WFP, 2014, pp. 13).
Tanzania is working towards this first by
achieving self-sufficiency (Food and Agricul-
ture Organization, 2014) in two stable prod-
ucts, maize and rice. As a result, it now
stands to share the surpluses with its neigh-
bours in East Africa and so compared to
many is a success
Programmes in the country are becoming really
successful. In Tanzania, the transformation focus
has been specifically on developing the southern
corridor (SAGCOT), using a range of public-private
partnerships. SAGCOT programme aims to reduce
poverty and improve food security within the
southern region in Tanzania where the programme
is focused. Its objective is to contribute to adapting
and modifying the business environment for com-
mercial agriculture as it believes that a growth in
commercial agribusiness will make considerable
developments to market operations and increase
growth.
10. A Marathon Not A Sprint
10
The programme has many expected outcomes to
reduce poverty and increase rural incomes. These
include maintaining a sustained ‘increase in agricul-
ture production and productivity’ (Department for
International Development, 2013, p.9) as well as
creating jobs with the increase in production. It also
aims to reduce food prices for customers as food
prices are now higher than in 2008. The project all
wants to make agriculture sustainable for the future
by making it more environmentally sustainable and
to contribute to renewable energy with an aim of
lowering energy prices for poor households. This
shows the project is working hard to lower the aver-
age living costs for the majority and to increase
their wages and infrastructure through agriculture.
The Department for International Development
(DFID) with help from other investors in Tanzania
are funding SAGCOT. An international form of sup-
port is that the EU, USAID and DFID are helping to
fund a priority road building project in the area
linking up vital areas of arable land and businesses
all with the overall aim of increasing wages and re-
ducing the amount of poverty and hunger in Tanza-
nia. The area has a good potential for boosting
productivity and food security and improve nutri-
tion because the area has lots of arable land with
good soil and access to water will relatively little
interruption from weather changes. Tanzania’s issue
is that it failed to capitalise on its resources and po-
tential when it could meaning it has all the founda-
tions of a successful state like many members in
CAADP. The low levels of production are changing
and it should be relatively easy to double their
productivity if the region adopts modern farming
practices which is occurring. Overall, Tanzania is be-
coming a successful agricultural state and by taking
steps to improve their infrastructure, technology
and techniques which will improve yields and make
them self sufficient in time and as a result de-
crease the levels of hunger in the state.
11. 4.0
Lessons for the
future
A Marathon Not A Sprint
11
The Tanzanian government understands that they
need address all aspects of society and every sec-
tor to achieve change. If the project is to be suc-
cessful in reducing poverty and improving food
security especially within the southern region in
Tanzania it needs to improve links between the
private and public sector to build relationships
and increase substantial investment to help their
projects. They need to focus on improving the in-
frastructure and modernization of agriculture for
the sector to drastically change and double
productivity which is what Tanzania will have to
do to be self-sufficient by 2025 when its projected
population will be 70 million.
A key lesson that can be learned from Tanzania’s
story is that hunger, food insecurity and malnutri-
tion are ‘complex problems that cannot be solved
by a single stakeholder or sector’ (FAO, IFAD and
WFP. 2014). A more nuanced tactical approach is
needed with a variety of actions that can deal with
the short-term and the deeper underlying causes
of hunger and malnutrition. It is also key that
members fully understand the issues so that the
response can be tailored to them. responses may
be needed to deal with ‘production, productivity,
rural development, fisheries, forestry, social pro-
tection, public works, trade, markets, resilience to
shocks, education or health’ (FAO, IFAD and WFP.
2014). Responses may been needed at both na-
tional and local levels however other issues may
require a regional response which may be needed
for CAADP members in regional zones across Afri-
ca. For a sustainable achievements, policies
should be communicated and executed in
‘complex social, political and economic environ-
ments’ (FAO, IFAD and WFP. 2014) as to respond
to complicated issues.
This type of response will encourage investors
from different sectors to focus their actions and
increase investment and so to influence food inse-
curity. All policies should reflect a focus on ‘four
key dimensions of government: policies, pro-
grammes and legal frameworks; mobilization of
human and financial resources; coordination
mechanisms and partnerships; and evidence-
based decision making’ (FAO, IFAD and WFP.
2014). This will create an environment where ‘the
actors and sectors concerned contribute to en-
hancing food security outcomes’ (FAO, IFAD and
WFP. 2014).
One aspect of this is that members of CAADP
should implement inclusive, widespread,
‘evidence-based policies, strategies and pro-
grammes’ (FAO, IFAD and WFP. 2014) that can ad-
equately tackle the short-term and underlying so-
cial issues and causes of food insecurity with a col-
lective response that will create long term sustain-
able growth in rural economies and nationwide
agriculture. This should be supported and encour-
aged by legal frameworks that also encourage eth-
ical sustainability and business investment as this
will create better business practice, minimise cor-
ruption, increase growth and economic spending.
Members of CAADP should continue to share ex-
pertise and information like they have in the year
of agriculture and encourage investment into
Africa’s infrastructure and agricultural industries
as it will create more jobs, higher wages, and
more importantly a more sustainable response to
food insecurity that will better tackle hunger and
malnutrition. in Africa states.
12. A Marathon Not A Sprint
5.0
Conclusion
12
In conclusion, this report illustrates the types of
policies needed for a successful agricultural in-
dustry in Africa with specific reference to Tanza-
nia’s story. It shows the types of policy agendas
needed to be carried out and what specifically
governments of CAADP members need to do to
build a sustainable industry that will be success-
ful. It shows evidence of successful impacts on
agriculture and sector performance and how it
would be possible for CAADP members to relate
this to their regions. It highlights how complex
the issues are surrounding food insecurity and
hunger and that in response a complex plan is
needed to tackle it effectively. A key theme is
that for a successful plan to work it must include
all sectors and areas within the state and must
be fair to rural and developed areas. It also high-
lights how important infrastructure is to the suc-
cess of a project and that both foreign and do-
mestic investment is needed for programmes
and policies to become viable and to become
successful and sustainable. The focus of
CAADP’s work ‘is at a national level, where agri-
cultural investment and productive actives take
place’ (The Comprehensive Africa Agricultural
Development Programme, 2010). However it is
clear that CAADP must allow states to develop
gradually, and to not try to rush and fix the short
term apparent issues facing states regarding
hunger, but also address the long term deeper
issues in society to fix the issues in a sustainable
long lasting way that will effectively help the
most amount of people. This may need to be
done by addressing the framework of the state
or region and take into account the effectiveness
and legitimacy of existing agencies, govern-
ments, institutions, legal and production sys-
tems. As a result this will take time, and the re-
sults will not be quick and easy, and so CAADP
and AU must be patient and it would be unrea-
sonable to expect huge alterations quickly. Alt-
hough the awareness and understanding of the
issues surrounding food security and hunger are
still relatively new and the process has just be-
gan, Tanzania’s story makes it clear that by pur-
suing a long term plan, success can be reached in
time however time will need to pass before huge
sweeping changes can be seen for many mem-
bers.
Words: 3269
13. A Marathon Not A Sprint
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