5-9 September 2017, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania – At the invitation of the Government of Tanzania, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), José Graziano da Silva, starts an official visit to Tanzania.

During his visit, Graziano da Silva is expected to meet with the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, John Pombe Magufuli; Vice-President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan and the President of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, Ali Mohamed Shein.

The FAO Director-General will also hold meetings with the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (Tanzania Mainland), Hon. Dr. Charles Tizeba, and the Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources Livestock and Fisheries (Zanzibar), Hon. Hamad Rashid Mohamed.

Graziano da Silva will discuss various issues of cooperation between the United Republic of Tanzania and FAO, as well as other matters of mutual interest, he added. In addition to Government officials, the Director-General will also meet with other FAO partners in the country including civil society organizations, academia and research institutions.

The FAO Director-General will then fly to Zanzibar where, among other things, he is expected to lay a foundation stone to begin construction of a marine hatchery funded by the Government of the Republic of Korea, through KOICA. Graziano da Silva will also have an opportunity to visit a seaweed project and an exhibition of different products by women who are engaged in seaweed farming.

The Director-General’s visit comes as FAO marks its 40th anniversary in Tanzania.

Tanzania joined FAO in 1962, and in 1977 FAO established a country office. Over the last 40 years, FAO has assisted the Government in the planning and implementation of its agricultural policies, strategies and programmes. FAO’s work in the country concentrates on improving food and nutrition security and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, thereby creating the impetus for economic growth in the agriculture and rural sector.