Past National Attempt - Canada Wheat Program

What was done

• Tanzania’s president asked Canada for help in growing wheat because they have experience in growing large amounts of wheat using modern technology.

• The program covered 26400 hectares in the Hanang District in northern Tanzania.

• At first the equipment (expertise, training, chemical fertilizers and machinery) that Canada provided was free, but eventually Tanzania had to pay for them.

Evidence of success

• It provided about 60% of all of Tanzania’s wheat.

• 121 tanzanians received training in wheat production.

• 150 mechanics gained training in maintaining farm machinery.

• Up to 400 people worked on the farms.

• Road, rail and electricity connections were improved. In the 1992 drought, Tanzania were the only country in southern African country that did not rely on food aid.

Criticisms

• Because the yield was mostly low, it would have been cheaper to import wheat.

• Only one crop was grown so biodiversity and soil fertility decreased.

• After harvesting, rain washed the top soil away.

• Most people in Tanzania east maize and cannot afford bread made from wheat, so low-technology maize production may have been better.

• Tanzania could not afford spare parts and fuel for the tractors and combine-harvesters, so many were used for spare parts or left rusting unused.

• Tanzania had to buy spare parts from Canada meaning the biggest winners were the Canadian manufacturers.

• Not very many jobs were created in total.

• The food security in the Barabaigs got worse.

Local Attempt - Goat Aid

What was done

• Goats were given to small groups of villagers ‘on credit’ once they were trained on how to keep and care for them.

• They were given ‘on credit’ because Farm Africa believes that if the goats were given out for free, people would not value and care for them.

• The goats that were given were Toggenburg goats because they produce up to 3L of milk a day.

Evidence of success

• The milk from the goats gives the people a more nutritious diet and the manure helps to improve the growth of the crops.

• The money earned for selling spare products and produce has made it that people can improve their living conditions with bricks and iron sheets.

• By breeding the goats and selling them the villages have been able to by other animals such as bulls to help till the land.

Criticisms

• Goats require a lot of water which is a scarce resource in places like the Babati district.

• Goat’s hooves and grazing can damage the land and lead to desertification.

• Veterinary bills can be expensive if the goats get sick.

• Small scale projects don’t have a large impact on the whole of the countries food security.

• The number of hoofed animals in Africa has increased from 275 million in 1961 to 655 million in 2005 and during that time poverty increased not decreased.

Present National Attempt - SAGCOT

What is being done

• Tanzania Port Authority invested $18 million in port storage and handling equipment so food and seeds can be easily imported or exported

• There are 188 commercial farms in six cluster areas spread along the growth corridor so more places have access to food and jobs.

• $1140 million invested in roads, rail, electricity and water infrastructure and China provide an extra $39 million for improving the railway, this means that food can more easily be transported to places further away and means that more places have a higher food security.

• The EU is investing $4.7 million on hydro-electricity generation so that farms can run more efficiently.

• $26 million from the EU and $15 million from the USA were provided for agriculture improvements.

• There are 75 000 farms that are linked to markets making it easier to access food to buy.

Evidence of success

• 450 000 jobs have been created.

• Regional food security has been assured because more people have access to food.

• 2 million people have been lifted out of poverty because they have been able to get jobs and earn money.

• The annual farming revenue is $1.2 billion.

• The Kilombero plantation doubled it’s rice yield.

• A sunflower-processing plant has increased farm outputs.

Criticisms

• Small landowners have not been involved in any of the decision-making.

• Most of the money invested only benefits the large commercial farms.