With proper support from business, the agricultural system in Tanzania can provide more nutritious, healthy food for people living in rural areas. This is the verdict of a new roadmap produced by businesses, government, civil society, academics and development organisations at the Grow Africa Investment Forum. The hope is that the plan will provide models for investment in agriculture and nutrition which can be replicated not only in Tanzania, but across Africa.
Rural farming communities in Tanzania already receive a range of support from government and businesses, including seeds, fertiliser and training. They're also participating in projects which give them access to local and national markets. The roadmap focuses on two areas which could increase this support further still: helping workers in agricultural supply chains to improve their nutritional intake, and increasing production of more nutritious foods, so the benefits extend to the whole region.
In particular, the plan suggests three ways to help make this happen:
1. Using local agricultural systems and markets to distribute nutritious foods to producers.
2. Giving farmers seeds, tools and training to bring more diverse and nutritious foods to market.
3. Linking agricultural production to processors so that many more people can buy fortified staple foods, such as maize flour.
There also needs to be a real focus on women, so that they can use their huge potential to transform life for themselves and their families. Currently, women produce more than half of all the food that is grown in the world yet receive just 5% of resources such as education and training.
A joined up approach to business investment in agriculture and nutrition will lead to improved diets and increased food security, as well as healthier, more productive workforces. Nutrient deficiencies have been shown to have a negative impact on productivity and earning power. Iron, iodine, and zinc deficiencies alone are estimated to impact the GDP of a country by 2-3%. In particular, reducing anaemia can increase productivity by up to 17%.
The new plan was developed by GAIN and the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) Centre, under the umbrella of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Business Network. It will help businesses prioritise how they work in the nutrition sector, and set out an agenda for better integration between agriculture, health and nutrition.
