On 24th September, Ms. Angelina Ngalula, Chairperson of Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF), addressed the private sector community from Tanzania and India at the strategic Business Roundtable on the Agricultural Sector hosted by H.E Binaya Pradhan, India’s High Commissioner in collaboration with TPSF. The event, which was attended by Hon. Anthony Mavunde, Deputy Minister of Agriculture as the guest of honor, was aimed at exploring Tanzania’s diverse agricultural potential and establishing partnerships and collaborations with Indian representatives to realize the country’s agenda 10/30 on increasing agricultural productivity.
Ms. Ngalula commended the Indian High Commissioner, H.E. Binaya Srikanta Pradhan, for his efforts to develop Tanzania-India relations and bilateral commerce between the two countries.
In addition, Ms. Ngalula outlined 6 attractive areas of joint venture and cooperation between Tanzania and India. This includes investment in value addition in the agricultural value chain, agricultural mechanization to increase agricultural productivity and efficiency, Tanzania’s irrigation projects, market access, and investment in the production of wheat, sugar, edible oil, etc.
“Tanzania’s market for tractors consists of 1,000 units per year, while South Africa’s market sells around 4,000 units each year. Considering the extent of Tanzania’s territory, we should import more. We do not manufacture tractors in Tanzania; thus, we need investors to import tractors or establish an assembly line in Tanzania that will serve both the EAC and SADC region.” She added. She also emphasized that Tanzania’s business community is willing to collaborate with Indians to enhance the agricultural sector.
In his speech, Honorable Mavunde said that the Tanzanian government collaborates with the private sector to address challenges in the agricultural value chain. In addition, he outlined the country’s ambitious agricultural transformation plan, called ‘agenda 10/30,’ whose goal was to rally governmental and private sector efforts to reverse the fortunes of thousands of individuals depending on the agricultural value chain.
“Since agriculture is the primary source of income for around 65 percent of Tanzanians, the agenda intended to achieve an excellent 10 percent annual growth rate for the industry by 2030,” he added.
Expanding extension services is one of the “Agenda 10/30” campaign’s cornerstones. The present growth rate is between 2% and 4%, whereas the government’s five-year development plan anticipates a growth rate of 5.7% by 2025. The government is hopeful that agri-business can tackle youth and women unemployment, relieve severe poverty, and substantially contribute to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP).
TPSF director of policy Advocacy and Membership Management, Mr. Zachy Mbenna gave a vote of thanks on behalf of the TPSF Secretariat by thanking the Indian High Commissioner, Mr. Binaya, and the High Commission for hosting the event, the Indian delegation for their willingness to partner and transform the agriculture sector in Tanzania.