Tanzania: the pros and cons of 'Kilimo Kwanza'

TANZANIA is in the middle (so to speak) of implementing the 'Kilimo Kwanza' programme that is ostensibly designed to revolutionize Agriculture in the country by 2015 through prioritizing same in the nation's developmental agenda. It should come as no surprise, though, that the initiative by the President Jakaya Kikwete Government (2005?) has been receiving different comments from assorted observers across the board. Dan Mrutu, CEO of the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCoT), gives hope that 'Kilimo Kwanza' (Agriculture First) will rescue Tanzanians from poverty. “The majority of the citizenry depend on agriculture, although there is need for a major revolution in it,h Mrutu said in an interview with Business Times. He is optimistic that there'll be gradual transformation in the sector leading to self-sufficiency in food, and surpluses for export! “It is true the Kilimo Kwanza initiative will bring fundamental changes in Tanzania, but this cannot happen overnight; there is a need to wait for other developments to support it, such as infrastructure, rural electrification and construction of enough warehouses,” he commented. Mrutu criticized those who do not see anything good in the initiative, by saying that the hand-hoe is now outdated and replacement of this mode of production is a matter of necessity. Janet Bitegeko, executive director of the Agricultural Council of Tanzania (ACT), supports Mrutu, saying there've been big improvements in agriculture from implementation of the initiative. “I've been in agriculture for more than 25 years, it's worthwhile to appreciate the gains of 'Kilimo Kwanza.' The benefits range from improved food security to jobs creation, and is attracting more participants,” she argued. She sees good prospects not only in its commercial aspects, but also in general improvement of nutrition! These views are shared by Isaka Mashauri, the TanSeed managing director and CEO, noting that TanSeed has gained much from the initiative. Arguing that 'Kilimo Kwanza' has come at a good time after many years of neglect of the sector, Mashauri said: “I can assure you the potential is there; but the primary agency for increased agricultural output, and for increased exports of food crops, must be small farmers. But they need support systems like transport infrastructure and rural electrification.” Mashauri says the role of the state will be to provide the favourable working conditions, and keep its own costs down. There's also the need to change the mindsets of government functionaries in favour of the programme. But, there has also been considerable criticism of the initiative...A seasoned Tanzanian economist, Prof. Ibrahim Lipumba, says 'Kilimo Kwanza' is more of a red herring than a blessing.Lipumba, who has lectured Economics and economic adviser for many years before venturing into active politics in the mid-1990s, says the initiative is good theory; but its practical side is poor! SPEAKING IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH AYUB RIOBA, A LECTURER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM'S SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM ON MLIMANI-TV RECENTLY, LIPUMBA SAID GGOOD AS IT MIGHT APPEAR, KILIMO KWANZA HAS SIDELINED THE PEASANT FARMER TO THE EXTENT THAT IT HAS INCREASED RURAL POVERTY... WHILE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE BENEFITING FROM THE SAME PROGRAMME AT THE EXPENSE OF THE POOR MAJORITY!H THIS STANCE IS SUPPORTED BY STATISTICS FROM THE LEGAL & HUMAN RIGHTS CENTRE (LHRC) SHOWING THAT CONFLICTS HAVE INCREASED SINCE 'KILIMO KWANZA' WAS INTRODUCED! APPARENTLY, THE WELL-TO-DO HAVE BEEN GRABBING THE OPPORTUNITIES THUS DENYING SAME TO THE MAJORITY, POOR PEASANTS!ACCORDING TO THE 2011 TANZANIAN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT RELEASED RECENTLY, 'KILIMO KWANZA' WAS SINGLED OUT AS A CATALYST FOR LAND-GRABBING, SIDELINING SMALL FARMERS AND PASTORALISTS. On page 171, the report says “during the 2011 Human Rights Survey, LHRC interviewed 890 people from different parts of (Tanzania). The basic question was: ‘Do farmers benefit from the Kilimo Kwanza response policy?’ “...67.6 per cent of the respondents said farmers don't benefit from 'Kilimo Kwanza,' while 32.2 answered positively...” Many more commentators said the initiative is good theoretically –and that, if nothing else, it has attracted donor attention. But, in essence, there are many areas to be tackled to make it more reliable and profitable for ordinary Tanzanians! A pertinent comment in the LHRC report on the same page says “the fertilizer subsidy, seeds and agricultural improvements are supplied to well-to-do people, and very little is for peasants with low income!” Lipumba again: “we have been demoralized by the payments of the voucher system as well as by the little land available for farming; 'Kilimo Kwanza' is of no real benefit”to ordinary Tanzanians!Recently, Star-TV ran a programme in which the executive director of 'HakiArdhi,' Yefred Miyenzi, said “many cases have been filed after large-scale farmers grabbed land for big investment schemes in agriculture."Miyenzi criticized “village executive officers who conspire with bigwigs in the land-grabbing process... After unscrupulous 'investors' have made plans to secure loans from the Kilimo Kwanza Initiative, they use corrupt leaders to secure village land for as little as Tsh2,000 an acre!“After they (villagers) have taken the money and sign away their land, they find themselves at a loss as to what to do, as the contracts they signed are binding, and they cannot recover their land!h JOSEPH CHOMBOLA, A HAKIARDHI LAWYER, SAYS THE EPIRATESF IN THE LAND-GRABBING MANOEUVRES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WEAKNESSES IN TANZANIA'S LEGAL SYSTEM, AND LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AMONG THE MAJORITY POOR, TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR HEINOUS MISSION. According to Chombola, “the eventual, long-term result is that land-grabbing increases poverty in the country... In the same TV programme, Ms Pendo Omary said a survey sponsored by the Tanzania Media Women's Association, (TAMWA) discovered that land-grabbing has led to increased family conflicts. “In my research in Kilolo District, I discovered that Kilimo Kwanza has caused a lot of problems. It doesn't target helping small farmers – and, instead, removes them from their traditional lifestyles , reducing them to paupers in urban centres,” Pendo said.

THE KILIMO KWANZA RESOLUTION

WHEREAS the Tanzania National Business Council (TNBC), under its Chairman, H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania held a two day meeting on 2^nd and 3^rd June 2009 at Kunduchi Beach Hotel, Dar es Salaam, to discuss the policies and strategies for the transformation of Tanzania’s agriculture under the theme “KILIMO KWANZA[1]” and its implementation;

AND WHEREAS eighty per cent of Tanzanians depend on agriculture for their livelihood;

RECOGNIZING that the greatest challenge facing Tanzania is to combat poverty and that this will be possible mainly through enhanced agricultural productivity;

CONSIDERING Tanzania’s endowment of agricultural land, livestock and marine resources of which a large proportion is currently underutilized;

REALIZING that Tanzania has the second largest volume of inland fresh water resources in Africa that can be utilized for irrigation;

CONSCIOUS of the fact that so far considerable efforts have been made towards the transformation of agriculture without much success;

IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED to:

1.   Embark on KILIMO KWANZA as Tanzania’s Green Revolution to transform its agriculture into a modern and commercial sector;

2.   Integrate KILIMO KWANZA into the Government machinery to ensure its successful implementation;

3.   Mobilize increased quantum of resources towards the realization of KILIMO KWANZA;

4.   Mobilize the private sector to substantially increase its investment and shoulder its rightful role in the implementation of KILIMO KWANZA and

5.   Declare that the implementation of KILIMO KWANZA  will comprise the following  ten actionable  pillars:

                      I.    Political will to push our agricultural transformation.

                    II.    Enhanced financing for agriculture.

                  III.    Institutional reorganization and management of agriculture.

                 IV.    Paradigm shift to strategic agricultural production.

                   V.    Land availability for agriculture.

                 VI.    Incentives to stimulate investments in agriculture.

               VII.    Industrialization for agricultural transformation.  

             VIII.    Science, technology and human resources to support agricultural transformation.

                 IX.    Infrastructure Development to support agricultural transformation.

                   X.    Mobilization of Tanzanians to support and participate in the implementation of KILIMO KWANZA.

Details of the above ten pillars of KILIMO KWANZA are elaborated in the action programme annexed hereto.

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[1] Agriculture First

Kilimo Kwanza

KILIMO KWANZA is a national resolve to accelerate agricultural transformation. It comprises a holistic set of policy instruments and strategic interventions towards addressing various sectoral challenges and taking advantage of the numerous opportunities to modernise and commercialise agriculture in Tanzania.
President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete launched KILIMO KWANZA in Dodoma on 3^rd August 2009, as a central pillar in achieving the country’s Vision 2025 and a force to propel the realisation of the Nation’s socio-economic development goals. Agriculture in the context of KILIMO KWANZA conforms to the FAO definition which includes crops, livestock, fisheries, forestry and bee-keeping.

KILIMO KWANZA is a catalyst for the implementation of Agricultural Sector Development Programme (ASDP) and accelerates implementation and achievement of MDGs targets and objectives with a stronger emphasis for pro – poor growth. It takes a holistic approach for the development of agricultural sector which involves all sectors in the economy. KILIMO KWANZA provides national coordination of resources, planning and accountability for implementation of agricultural transformation and enhances strong private sector participation as a key agent towards realization of agricultural goals.

The implementation of KILIMO KWANZA revolves around ten pillars, namely

 

1. Political will to push our agricultural transformation.
2. Enhanced financing for agriculture.
3. Institutional reorganization and management of agriculture.
4. Paradigm shift to strategic agricultural production.
5. Land availability for agriculture.
6. Incentives to stimulate investments in agriculture.
7. Industrialization for agricultural transformation.
8. Science, technology and human resources to support agricultural transformation.
9. Infrastructure Development to support agricultural transformation.
10. Mobilization of Tanzanians to support and participate in the implementation of KILIMO KWANZA.      

Since KILIMO KWANZA was launched, there has been some improvements in the performance of the agricultural sector such as:

• The increase in the agricultural budgets, the share of budget for agriculture has risen to about 7 percent of the annual budget, which has also led to increased subsidies to farmers from 750,000 last year (2008/09) to 1,500,000 farmers this year (2009/2010). The target is to reach 10 percent for the development of the sector.
• To effectively finance the agricultural sector, the Government has arranged a special window for concessionary lending for agricultural production at TIB, while procedures of establishing an Agricultural Bank are underway.
• The government has established a Task Force to review fiscal and non – fiscal policies to attract more investors in the agricultural sector.  
• Most agricultural equipment have been exempted from taxation, this has increased the private sector participation in the agricultural sector by importing more tractors and other equipment for agriculture production and processing in the country.

The Fourth Phase Government decided to champion KILIMO KWANZA after recognizing the importance of the agriculture sector in the country and the need to build on the past efforts, after making an in-depth review of the agricultural sector and formulating the Agricultural Sector Development Programme (ASDP),which placed new initiatives with strategies and plans for implementation of Green Revolution.

Core features of the ASDP are to strengthen Public and Private Partnerships across all levels of the agricultural sector and implement the District Agricultural Development Plans (DADPs) as the comprehensive tool for agricultural development at district level.

The main focus is to emphasize on the transformation of the poor peasantry farming methods into productive agriculture through utilization of improved agricultural technologies, inputs, credits and market access and to see Tanzania peasants moving from where they are now by using more ploughs, power tillers and tractors whenever possible.

TANZANIA’S UNIQUE POTENTIALS FOR KILIMO KWANZA IMPLEMENTATION

• Existence of 44 million hectares of arable land but only 23% is currently under cultivation.
• 62,000 sq.kms of the fresh water resources available for crops, livestock and fish farming which is grossly underutilized.
• 29 million hectares of irrigable land but only ONE PERCENT is currently under irrigation.
• 19 million cattle, 17 million sheep and goats; 30 million chicken which are not commercially exploited.
• 1,424 kms of coastline and 223,000 sq.kms of Tanzania’s Exclusive Economic Zone of the Indian Ocean which is not being effectively exploited.

Kukauka Mto Ruaha Mkuu, Mbarali lawamani

Wakazi wa kata za Igoma na Ilungu wilayani Mbeya vijijini wamelalamikia matumizi yasiyo sahihi ya maji kwa shughuli mbalimbali ikiwemo kilimo cha umwagiliaji katika wilaya ya Mbarali na kudai kuwa shughuli hizo zinachangia kwa kiasi kikubwa kukausha mto Ruaha Mkuu ambao ndiyo uhai mkuu wa hifadhi ya Taifa ya Ruaha.

Wamesema katika kata zao ambazo zipo katika milima ya Livingstone wamekuwa wakifanya juhudi kubwa kuhifadhi vyanzo vya maji ili kuitikia wito wa Serikali na wadau wengine wa kuokoa Hifadhi ya Ruaha na bwawa la Mtera lakini maji mengi yamekuwa yakipotelea katika wilaya ya Mbarali huku TANAPA na mamlaka zingine wakifumbia macho suala hilo.

Ndani ya hifadhi ya Taifa ya Ruaha, uoto wa asili hivi sasa unapendeza kutokana na mvua zinazoendelea kunyesha lakini mto wa Ruaha Mkuu hali yake bado si ya kuridhisha angalau maji sasa yanatiririka baada ya kutofanya hivyo kwa takribani miezi minne iliyopita.

Hali hii inawashtua wananchi wanaotoka kwenye vyanzo vya maji yanaoingia Ihefu na hatimaye mto Ruaha Mkuu walioongozana na Mkuu wa wilaya ya Mbeya vijijini kwa ajili ya ziara ya mafunzo ndani ya hifadhi ya Ruaha ambao wanasema juhudi kubwa wanazofanya kuhifadhi vyanzo vya maji zinaishia wilaya ya Mbarali.

Wakizungumza katika kikao cha majadiliano baada ziara yao, Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa halmashauri ya wilaya ya mbeya vijijini Bi. Upendo Sanga na Mkuu wa wilaya hiyo Dokta Norman Sigalla wamesema ni vyema kuwa na kikao cha pamoja kujadili jambo hilo na kuwa na utaratibu usiochekea watu wanaotumia maji kiholela hususani wanaolima kilimo cha umwagiliani bila miundombinu ya kurejesha maji mtoni

Akijibu hoja hizo, Afisa Utalii mwandamizi wa hifadhi ya Taifa ya Ruaha Bi. Eva Pwelle amesema siyo kweli kwamba TANAPA imekuwa haishughulikii tatizo hilo na hivi sasa kwa kushirikiana na wadau wengine imekuja na mradi wa kuimarisha usimamizi wa maeneo yaliyohifadhiwa kusini mwa Tanzania (SPANEST) ambao pia utashughulikia tatizo hilo.

Uongozi wa juu wa wilaya ya Mbeya vijijini pamoja na kamati za maendeleo za kata za Igoma na Ilungu na wazee maarufu wa kata hizo  wametembela hifadhi ya Taifa ya Ruaha kujifunza umuhimu wa uhifadhi kwa ufadhili wa Mradi wa SPANEST.