FAO Representative in Tanzania Mrs. Nyabenyi Tipo giving her speech at the Nane Nane National Agricultural exhibitions in Dodoma on behalf of the UN System in Tanzania on August 8th 2024

Remarks by FAO Representative in Tanzania, Mrs. Nyabenyi Tipo on Behalf of the UN System in Tanzania | Nane Nane National Agricultural Exhibitions in Dodoma | August 8th, 2024 

• Her Excellency Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania,
• Honourable Hussein Mohammed Bashe, Minister of Agriculture,
• Honourable Abdallah Ulega, Minister of Livestock and Fisheries,
• Honourable Rosemary Senyamule, Regional Commissioner of Dodoma and our Host
• Honourable Halima Dendego, Regional Commissioner of Singida,
• Chairperson of the Parliamentary Permanent Committee,
• Senior Government Officials,
• Distinguished Guests, 
• Members of the Press, 
• Ladies and Gentlemen

Habari za asubuhi. 

It is a great pleasure to be with you today in Dodoma.

I would like to start by congratulating Her Excellency, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, for her commitment to investing in the agriculture sector. This investment will boost agricultural production and contribute to improved food security and nutrition in our country.

I am grateful for the Government’s unwavering commitment to achieving Zero Hunger by 2030. The launch of the Building a Better Tomorrow Youth Initiative for Agribusiness (BBT-YIA) will engage youth in agribusiness, creating profitable and sustainable livelihoods. Youth involvement in agriculture will help combat youth unemployment, increase food production, alleviate extreme poverty, and significantly contribute to the country’s economic development.

Rural women often manage complex households and engage in multiple livelihood activities, including land preparation, tending animals, sowing seeds, cultivating and harvesting crops, and processing and preparing food. Women play a critical role in agriculture, yet they face persistent obstacles and economic constraints that limit their inclusion. Empowering women will help break the cycle of poverty, reduce hunger, and ensure food security.

Distinguished guests,

In 2022, the Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania, His Excellency Philip Isdor Mpango, launched the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). It serves as a guiding framework for all UN agencies in Tanzania, enabling a coordinated effort to support the nation in realizing it’s the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the context of its national development plans and priorities.

The Cooperation Framework consists of four strategic outcome areas - People, Prosperity, Planet, and Enabling Environment. They represent an integrated approach towards development, ensuring a balance between economic progress, social equity, environmental sustainability, and institutional efficacy.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is implementing a Country Programming Framework (CPF) as part of the UNSDCF. FAO’s Programming Framework articulates its collective response in support of Tanzania’s national priorities and pathway to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

It embodies the spirit of partnerships to leverage strength and drive transformative change, ensuring that no one is left behind. The Programming Framework also aligns with FAO's regional thematic priorities, which include:

1. Investing in ecosystem restoration for more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems transformation in Africa;
2. Promoting investment and trade for competitive agri-food systems; and
3. Prioritizing women, youth, and the poor.

In addition to these priorities, we recognize the importance of advancing digital agriculture to enhance efficiency, transparency, and productivity. By embracing digital tools and technologies, we can revolutionize the way we approach farming and food production.

Furthermore, supporting agrifood systems transformation is essential to meet evolving demands and sustainability goals. This involves integrating modern practices, innovation, and new technologies to drive progress and resilience in the agricultural sector.

Forging stronger partnerships, joint programming, and resource mobilization with the government, UN agencies through the Cooperation Framework, and non-state actors such as the private sector, civil society organizations, producer organizations, academia, and research institutions are crucial to meeting these priorities. Such partnerships will help achieve the SDGs.

Transforming the world's food systems is essential for ensuring reliable food security and nutrition for all. This will help reduce endemic inequality and poverty and mitigate the impact on biodiversity, natural resources, and the climate.

Distinguished guests,

We call upon the Government, the private sector, and other stakeholders to continue investing in agriculture, which is the backbone of the economy and livelihoods for the majority of Tanzanians. Embracing digital agriculture, agrifood systems transformation, and innovation and new technology will ensure that Tanzania remains at the forefront of agricultural development and sustainability.

As the country develops the Tanzania Development Vision 2050, the United Nations stands ready to support the Government’s foresight in developing this crucial roadmap.

Asanteni sana!