Over the last decade, Tanzania has seen only modest reductions in poverty, particularly in rural areas where 80 percent of the population lives, despite strong economic growth at a national level in the same period. Agriculture is the largest employer in the country (absorbing 74 percent of the labour force), but households engaged in farming, livestock raising, fishing and forestry are among the poorest.
In order to promote growth in the agriculture sector, the Coastal Rural Support Programme, Tanzania (CRSP(T)) is focused on:
- Raising productivity by introducing technical innovation in the production of rice and sesame as important food and cash crops in Mtwara and Lindi; and
- Helping to link smallholder farmers with traders and agro-processors to strengthen agricultural markets.
To date, these interventions have reached approximately 54,000 farmers (44 percent female), increased rice production by approximately 100 percent, and improved sesame production significantly. To support southern Tanzania’s move away from subsistence farming towards a more market-based agricultural economy, CRSP(T) is facilitating relationships between private companies and local actors including 15 cooperatives, contract farming groups, and village-based agents linked to agro-dealers and agro-processors. CRSP(T) trains all of these groups on improved marketing and business management practices. This enables farmers to purchase inputs (like seed and fertiliser) in bulk to reduce costs and increases the supply of high quality produce. This in turn helps raise incomes by enabling farmers to sell to traders at higher prices. Activities to date have been funded by UK AID, through their US$14.9 million grant.
