The governments of the United States and the United Republic of Tanzania have introduced a fresh food security initiative called “Tuhifadhi Chakula” which translates to “Let’s Save Food.”
Officials announced the comprehensive program during this year’s Nane Nane event in Mbeya. Further, the program will span five years and is worth $24 million.
What’s more, the Tanzania Horticulture Association will execute it in collaboration with the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) Center.
With a primary focus on minimising food loss and waste, the USAID Tuhifadhi Chakula project aims to strengthen food security, enhance livelihoods, foster employment opportunities, and cultivate export potentials for Tanzania.
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Also, the project particularly aims to benefit women and youth, contributing to their empowerment within the country.
Ending food loss
Tanzania currently experiences a significant loss of 40-50 percent of its crops between the initial cultivation and the final market sale.
This initiative aims to address this issue by engaging with farmers, traders, processors, and other stakeholders throughout the value chain. The goal is to reduce food loss and waste by fifty percent.
Together with partners the Ministry of Agriculture developed the project to align with the National Post-Harvest Management Strategy.
Initially, its implementation will be concentrated in Tanzania’s Arusha, Mbeya, Morogoro, Njombe, Pwani, Tanga, and Zanzibar regions.
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“Today, we celebrate Tanzania’s significant strides in the agriculture, livestock, and fisheries sectors,” said USAID/Tanzania Mission Director Craig Hart speaking during the Nane Nane event in Mbeya.
“Agriculture is the country’s backbone and together with determination and perseverance, we can navigate the pathway to a more promising and sustainable future,” he added.
Exploring USAID’s Impactful Initiatives in Mbeya
During his visit to Mbeya, Hart toured various ongoing projects under USAID’s Feed the Future initiative.
These projects include Kilimo Tija (“Productive Agriculture”), the Private Sector Strengthening Activity, and Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa initiatives. Collectively, these endeavours have a shared focus on fostering agricultural-led growth
This is achieved through the reinforcement of the private sector, the promotion of advanced technologies, practices, and inputs, the enhancement of horticulture, and the facilitation of value addition processes.
During a visit in June, USAID Administrator Samantha Power underscored the strong collaboration between the United States and Tanzania in areas concerning food security, nutrition, poverty alleviation, and agricultural advancement.
During discussions with Agriculture Minister Hussein Bashe and at the Nane Nane event in Mbeya, Hart also conveyed his gratitude for the enduring and mutually beneficial partnership between USAID and Tanzania.