This project was implemented by ACT through the Tanzania Agricultural Partnership (TAP) programme. The EC Food Facility Grant (FFG) project was a 22 month project that started on 1st January 2010 and officially ended on 31st October 2011. The project was designed to deepen TAP operations that were rolled out from 2008 through the support of the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) under TAP I.
The European Union (then known as the European Commission) awarded ACT a grant amounting to EUR 1,523,487 to develop maize and rice value chains in 13 districts of mainland Tanzania. These districts were: Mbozi, Kyela, Mbeya Rural, Mbarali, Njombe, Mufindi, Iringa Rural, Namtumbo, Songea Rural, Kilombero, Morogoro Rural, Monduli and Meru.
The overall objective of the project was to contribute to food price stability in the rice and maize value chains. To achieve that the programme had 7 strategic objectives, i.e., (i) Value chain analysis ii) Commodity investment plans developed iii) extension services to farmers improved iv) Warehouse Receipt System (WRS) promoted v) Access to loans by value chain actors increased vi) MIS developed and expanded vii) Large scale grain traders engaged viii) Policy issues reviewed and Advocacy increased.
The project facilitated public-private partnerships (PPPs), whereby most activities were implemented in collaboration between the private and public sectors. Value chain approach was the main implementation strategy used to bring together different partners and stakeholders whilst simultaneously addressing critical constraints along the maize and rice value chains.
The project goal was achieved by the average prices for maize and rice steadily increasing by 30% and 94% from the baseline value of 324 TZS/kg and 433 TZS/kg respectively. Following are a few other highlights of the most relevant results.
The project achieved 8 Commodity Investment Plans (100% achievement) which helped to essentially facilitate district-wide value chain developments for selected commodities. Correspondingly, the project facilitated renovation of 12 warehouses (92.3% achievement) and promotion of the warehouse receipt system (WRS) in all 13 districts (100% achievement). The average yields for maize and rice were 1,156kg/acre and 1,51,572kg/acre, respectively, showing impressive gains compared to baselines of 751 kg/acre and 669 kg/acre, respectively.
The project created awareness of market information systems (MIS) for 2,456 smallholder farmers out of the targeted 2,000 (122.8% achievement) aimed at providing regular and up-to-date market information for informed production and sales decisions. One (1) linking workshop was organized in which more than 3 apex organizations (surpassing the target of 3) were linked with large grain traders. As well, a total of 500 trained smallholder farmers out of the targeted 1000 farmers (50% achievement) were able to access loans through the project’s efforts.
Throughout the project period, ACT/TAP advocated on various issues related to key policy challenges that acted as obstacles to the achievement of the project objectives. 2 out of 3 targeted issues were addressed. These included combating challenges facing crop cess and the distribution of inputs. The Government took some measures to address these issues such as the planning and implementation of the Fertilizer Bulk Procurement System (BPS).