FAO, stakeholders mark project inception for capacity development and experience sharing on rice value chains
FAO in Tanzania through the Republic of Korea funding has brought together stakeholders from the Tanzania Ministry of Agriculture and relevant local authorities in Morogoro to mark inception of the capacity development and experience sharing for rice value chains project.
The project builds on the previous successful work and is designed to strengthen the capacity of national research and training institutions, enabling environment and rice value chain smallholder farmers and stakeholders.
Speaking during the inception workshop in Morogoro on 25 November, Assistant FAO Tanzania Country Representative - Programmes, Charles Tulahi said, “Through the South South and Triangular Cooperation mechanism, FAO spreads traditional knowledge, exchanges of ideas, knowledge and good practices based on the concept of solidarity and willingness to share and learn from one another.”
For his part Guest of Honor and Morogoro Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS) Emmanuel Kalobelo said he was pleased to learn that that the new project will focus on improving research on rice development.
“We hope research on rice development could help to inform our decision makers for increased production through improved varieties and farming practices, market linkages between value chain actors, increasing efficiency in the sector - by turning it commercial as envisaged by our national leaders,” he said.
On behalf of the private sector, Ms. Winnie Bashagi, Executive Director of Rice Council of Tanzania (RCT) described the new FAO project on capacity development and experience sharing for rice value chains as well aligned to address various needs facing the rice value chain’ actors. She said, “As private sector we welcome this project. We are one of key value chain actors such that projects like these bring us together for the common good of the sector.”
Specifically, the inception workshop focused on determining the synergies with ongoing relevant work in Tanzania; setting the scene in terms of existing rice sector policies, strategies and Value Chain studies, with the view of determining gaps that this project can reasonably fill and complement; as well as fine-tuning key aspects of the workplan and the implementation, in line with the country context.