Rome, 17 June 2016 – Representatives of thirteen international development agencies working in agriculture and rural development in Tanzania will look at local responses to El Niño impacts during their annual field visit in the Dodoma region from 15 to 17 June 2016.
Known collectively as the Development Partners Agriculture Working Group (AWG), Irish Aid, Japan International Cooperation Agency, European Union, Canada, Swiss Development Cooperation, Bill & Melinda Gate Foundation, World Bank, AGRA, African Development Bank, United Nations Development Programme, World Food Programme, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and International Fund for Agricultural Development are participating in the field visit.
This year’s visit comes at a time when many East and Southern African countries, including Tanzania, are facing the effects of climate change and recent weather phenomenon such as El Niño. Dodoma region in particular is one of six regions severely affected by El Niño together with Arusha, Mara, Morogoro, Mwanza, and Shinyanaga.
According to FAO in Tanzania, heavy rains attributed to El-Niño have caused floods in six assessed regions of the country affecting more than 25,000 households. This has had severe repercussions on the livelihood of the affected population who have lost crops, agricultural inputs and tools, animals, pasture land, income as casual labourers, in addition to household property.
While in the field, participants will obtain first-hand knowledge regarding local responses to challenges associated with food security, flood and drought preparedness, and implementation of district agriculture development plans. They will also hold discussions with the National Food Reserve Agency and the Tanzania Livestock Research Institute.
In addition, participants will meet with Charles John Tizeba, Minister of Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries and his staff to review progress in the formulation of the forthcoming second phase of the Agriculture Sector Development Programme and discuss public financing for the agriculture sector.