WFP Executive Director Visits Smallholder Farmers

Smallholder farmers account for the majority of Tanzania’s population and produce most of its food. Yet they are confronted by food and nutrition insecurity and remain relatively poor. Empowering farmers is, therefore, key to reaching Zero Hunger.

In July, WFP’s Executive Director, Mr. David Beasley, visited Tanzania to witness first-hand challenges faced by smallholder farmers and the approaches used to overcome these challenges through support from WFP.

During his visit, Beasley met and exchanged views with the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Dr. John Pombe Magufuli on efforts taken by the Government to address poverty. They also discussed increasing the number of local maize purchases from Tanzania to support WFP operations in the region.

He also met with the Prime Minister, Hon. Kassim Majaliwa and with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Hon. Dr. Augustine Mahiga. Accompanied by Minister Mahiga, Beasley visited Songea district, Ruvuma region, where he met with farmers from Matimila Village supported by the Farm to Market Alliance (FtMA). FtMA is a consortium of public and private institutions led by WFP to help smallholder farmers unlock new opportunities and transition to commercial farming.

FtMA provides farmers with access to affordable finance, quality farming inputs, predictable markets, and effective post-harvest technologies with the aim of making farming communities food secure, self-reliant and resilient. Nationally, the FtMA has supported 50,000 Famers and WFP plans to scale up the programme to reach 250,000 farmers over the next four years.

During his visit, Beasley also officiated the opening ceremony of an Innovation Field Hub through which WFP Tanzania offers an opportunity to foster, test, and scale-up innovations that can contribute to achieving Zero Hunger and other Sustainable Development Goals.