TANZANIA – The World Vegetable Centre (WorldVeg) and the International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC) have inked a five-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Tanzania in a significant stride towards agricultural transformation and food security.
The agreement, signed during the recent Africa Food Systems Forum, heralds a collaborative effort to advance research in crop production and fertiliser usage, with a primary focus on enhancing the productivity of vegetable farming.
The Africa Food System Forum is Africa’s premier platform for advancing the agriculture and food systems agenda on the continent.
According to Marco Wopereis, Director General at WorldVeg, this MoU is poised to fortify areas of mutual interest, harnessing comparative advantages and synergies towards shared objectives encompassing agricultural transformation, food nutrition, and security in Tanzania.
“Our foremost objective is to bolster food and nutrition security in alignment with sustainable development goals (SDGs) and contribute to the alleviation of poverty and malnutrition in both rural and urban areas.
“Additionally, we aim to bolster employment opportunities for women and youth,” he emphasized.
One of the pivotal facets of this collaboration will be the investigation of fertiliser usage among vegetable farmers, seeking to ascertain whether its application can effectively boost production.
This research will align with ongoing efforts to study soil health in regions such as Ugunja, Pemba, and several islands in Tanzania, further extending the impact of this partnership.
Marco expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration with IFDC, citing previous successful joint projects in the area of vegetable farming.
Henk van Duijin, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at IFDC, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of knowledge sharing, technology transfer, and industry expertise exchange to enhance service delivery.
Farmers in Tanzania are set to benefit significantly from this collaboration as they will gain insights into the optimal timing and methods for applying fertilisers based on specific soil conditions.
This knowledge will be instrumental in cultivating more nutritious crops and vegetables, ultimately contributing to improved food security in the region, reports Farmers Review Africa.
This partnership builds upon the MoU signed in July 2020 between WorldVeg and Tanzania’s Ministry of Agriculture (MOA).
That earlier agreement aimed to enhance research and development of vegetable crops, elevate nutrition standards, and bolster food security across Tanzania.
As the two organizations unite once more, their combined efforts hold the promise of ushering in a new era of sustainable agriculture and improved livelihoods for farmers in Tanzania.
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