Feed the Future combats poverty by improving productivity of small farms

Paul Weisenfeld/USAID

With its land and water resources, motivated agricultural entrepreneurs, and access to international markets through a major port, Tanzania has excellent potential for agriculture-led economic growth. Furthermore, women account for 70 percent  of those employed in the sector, allowing them to participate along the entire value chain and empowering them as beneficiaries. Tanzania’s climate is favorable for a variety of crops—and with improved seeds, productivity stands to rapidly increase.

Through Feed the Future, the U.S. Government’s global hunger and food security initiative, USAID focuses its investments both geographically, within the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania and Zanzibar, and on specific products, such as rice, maize, and horticulture.

USAID seeks to boost annual yields of targeted crops through both improved climate-smart practices and increased market access through the construction of rural feeder roads. These activities complement USAID’s efforts to improve farmer productivity, the nutritional value of crops, and the quality of processing, storage, and marketing. In Zanzibar, USAID works with smallholder farmers to produce fruits and vegetables for the hospitality sector and spices for export.

By engaging with government, civil society, and private sector partners, USAID promotes policies that enable increased private sector investment and trade. USAID also develops national capacity for policy, planning, and coordination. Through collaborative research with local institutions, as well as robust support to students pursuing post-graduate degrees in agricultural fields, USAID enhances Tanzania’s ability to innovate and improve productivity.