FAO and King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia partner to boost date palm farming in the United Republic of Tanzania
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed a project agreement today for USD 948 660 (TZS 2 371 650 000) to promote date palm farming in the United Republic of Tanzania.
The signing ceremony was held virtually between Ms. Nyabenyi Tipo, FAO Representative in the United Republic of Tanzania, and Mr Fahad Alosaimi, KSrelief’s Director of the Urgent Aid Department, with key stakeholders from both organizations present online.
The project, entitled “Emergency and resilience building support for smallholder farmers affected by drought through exploratory date palm cultivation in the United Republic of Tanzania,” will be implemented in Dodoma and neighbouring regions.
The key objective is to promote livelihood diversification by providing technical assistance to 250 smallholder farmers along with 20 agriculture extension officers to acquire knowledge and skills in date palm production, as well as 3 000 date palm seedlings and agricultural equipment. In addition, the project aims to establish demonstration plots in selected areas to showcase sustainable date palm farming practices. The initiative is expected to enhance food security, create income-generating opportunities and strengthen market linkages.
Ms Nyabenyi Tipo, FAO Representative, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating that “This collaboration marks the beginning of a promising journey towards sustainable and innovative agriculture. We believe that harnessing the potential of date palm farming will add value to the people we support and increase their livelihoods.”
The project is particularly relevant in the context of the current effects of drought affecting rural communities in the country. Many regions are experiencing frequent and severe dry spells, causing decreased food production and water scarcity. Moreover, the reliance on annual, rainfed, low-return crops like maize further exacerbates the situation, making rural communities vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
Given its global demand and the United Republic of Tanzania’s gap in date palm production, the fruit was selected due to its adaptability to semi-arid regions, like Dodoma, as well as for being a rich source of potassium, calcium, magnesium, and vitamins A, B and K. It also enables vulnerable households to generate income to cover basic needs.
Promoting food security is central to Ksrelief's mandate, "this collaboration with FAO will improve the livelihood of the rural population and will positively contribution to the growth of rural economy. The successful implementation of the innovative project will encourage extensions to other semi-arid areas in the country." said Mr. Fahad Alosaimi, adding that, “Addressing these challenges is essential to ensure food security, nutrition and economic stability, particularly in a world where the agriculture sector plays a critical role in feeding the global population.”
The project will be carried out over a 14-month period in close collaboration with the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania and more specifically the Ministry of Agriculture. The first phase will involve conducting a feasibility study in partnership with the Tanzania Agriculture Research Institute (TARI) and other stakeholders. This study will encompass key components, including natural resource assessment, suitability analysis for date palm production and the use of tissue culture technology to produce date seedlings.
The initiative is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2: Zero Hunger. It will also contribute to other significant SDGs such as SDG 1: No Poverty; SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being; SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG 12: Ensure Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns.