Tanzania Launches STOSAR II to Strengthen Agriculture and Food Systems
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania –
The Government of Tanzania, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, and the European Union (EU), has officially launched the second phase of the project, Support Towards the Operationalization of the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy, STOSAR II.
This new phase, running from 2025 to 2028, is backed by a EUR 10 million investment from the EU under the Development of Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture (DeSIRA) programme. STOSAR II builds on the momentum of STOSAR I (2018–2024), which laid a strong foundation for transforming agriculture and food systems across the 16 SADC Member States, including Tanzania.
In Tanzania, the STOSAR I Project delivered tangible results. By strengthening Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures, the project enabled six exporting companies, sourcing from over 2,000 avocado farmers, to successfully access markets in South Africa, China, and India. Surveillance efforts confirmed the absence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and a banana Fusarium wilt (Foc TR4) disease, both of which could have potentially disrupted trade. Additionally, a successful vaccination campaign against Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) improved livestock health, while groundwork was laid for meat exports to Mauritius. These achievements reflect the power of collaboration between government, development partners, and technical experts in driving sustainable agricultural growth. Building on these successes, STOSAR II will focus on four strategic priority areas:
- Agricultural Information Management Systems (AIMS): Enhancing national agricultural data platforms to support evidence-based policymaking.
- Market Access: Strengthening plant and animal health systems to combat transboundary pests and diseases and improving SPS frameworks to boost trade.
- Food and Nutrition Security (FNS): Supporting early warning systems and monitoring tools to guide timely policy responses.
- Inclusive Value Chains: Promoting participation of women, youth, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in sustainable, climate-smart agricultural markets.
The initiative supports the implementation of the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy (RAP), adopted in 2014 to promote sustainable agricultural growth, food and nutrition security, and regional integration. It is also aligned with the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) and the CAADP Strategy 2026–2035, endorsed under the Kampala Declaration of January 2025.
Speaking at the launch event, Dr. Edwin Mhede, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, who delivered remarks on behalf of Honorable Ashatu Kijaji, Minister of Livestock and Fisheries, said, “The STOSAR II initiative comes at a time when the need for robust Sanitary and Phytosanitary Systems (SPS) frameworks has never been more urgent. As we strive to improve food safety, protect plant and animal health, and unlock new market opportunities for our farmers and agribusinesses, this project offers a timely and strategic response”.
The FAO Representative, Dr Nyabenyi Tipo, added, “FAO is proud to support this process. We believe that the success of STOSAR II will be measured not just by the systems we strengthen, but by the impact we create for farmers, traders, and consumers, those who rely on safe and efficient agricultural systems every day”.
Mr. Lamine Diallo, the head of Natural Resources for the European Union Delegation in Tanzania, emphasized that, “The EU remains steadfast in its future commitment to supporting Tanzania’s agricultural sector. Agriculture will remain a key focus of our future engagement under the Global Gateway initiative, our global strategy aimed at enhancing sustainable infrastructure, strengthening trade, and fostering cooperation”.
About the Project
STOSAR II is a EUR 10 million initiative funded by the EU under the DeSIRA programme and implemented by FAO in partnership with the SADC Secretariat and Member States. It builds on the success of STOSAR I, which strengthened agricultural information systems, addressed transboundary pests and diseases, and supported market access across the region.
DeSIRA (Development of Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture) is an EU initiative that promotes research and innovation partnerships for climate-smart, sustainable, and inclusive agri-food systems.
National Media Contact
Victor Mapile – FAO Tanzania, Communications for Development Specialist.
Regional Media Contact:
Sibusisiwe Ndlovu: FAO Communications Specialist, STOSAR Project
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Phone number: +267 76 125 425