Prospects For Agricultural Growth In A Changing World
24 - 25 February 2010. Dar es Salaam. Organised by the World Bank and the Government of Tanzania. Discussions on African agriculture; climate Change and its impacts on the Productive Sectors, key elements of Kilimo Kwanza; and rural finance.
Agricultural and rural development consultant Hans Binswanger called on the government to allow free trading of cereals to enable producers to benefit from increasing prices and rising demand for food regionally and internationally. He attributed the lucrative trade in food to high prices that have been triggered by fall of output in the developed countries and the rising need of biofuels. Other participants said the Kilimo Kwanza initiative should go beyond enhancing productivity and addressing issues such as liberalising the cereals market. They said restricting the trade to the local economy would limit the gains to be accrued from the programme.
Background: Kilimo Kwanza initiative: Agriculture first, or Kilimo Kwanza, is a new initiative of the Tanzanian government to pour lots of effort and money into improving the agricultural sector of the country. H.E.Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, launched KILIMO KWANZA in Dodoma on 3rd 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.
