Parliamentary committee visits the WorldVeg regional center in Arusha, Tanzania

The 3rd of July was a momentous day for the World Vegetable Center’s Easter and Southern Africa regional center, as it hosted its first official visit from the Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania. The delegation included the government’s Sectoral Committee of Industries, Trade, Agriculture and Livestock, accompanied by local government leaders, and representatives from national institutes, authorities and agencies, amongst others.

The visit was testament to the excellent cooperation between WorldVeg and the government of Tanzania over many years, with the Ministry of Agriculture, Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute, Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticide Authority, Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute, the Agriculture Seed Agency, and others. WorldVeg also work closely with the Prime Minister’s office through the Ministry of Work, Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disability, which sends youth to the Centre for apprenticeships through the Tanzania Employment Service Agency. The Center implements the government’s National Multisectoral Nutrition Action Plan, and partners with universities, colleges and research institutions in implementing its work in Tanzania and beyond.

Gabriel Rugalema, Associate Director General Africa and Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa provided a brief history of how the Center started, and applauded the good work of its founders, including the Southern Africa Development Cooperation (SADC) of that time, and the government of Tanzania that offered 14 acres and buildings so operations could begin. He explained how WorldVeg gets resources to carry out research, training and seed kit distribution, to mention but a few, and some of achievements. These included the youth program, with 50 youth based at the Center starting their own company VIABLE, and 20 youth in Zanzibar forming ZOHO, with both having opportunities to participate in national and international platforms to learn and showcase their activities and products. In addition, in only the first half of this year, 259 professionals from eight African countries have received training, plus 504 farmers trained through field days, and 120 trained at the Center.

Delegates were shown Africa’s Vegetable Genebank, and a number of laboratories, seeing research on biological control, microbial analysis, molecular biology and tissue culture. The health benefits and economic importance of traditional African the vegetables were explained, with interest was shown in dual-purpose amaranth, selected for both improved grain and leaf yields.

Delegates also visited demonstration sites, with technologies for improving soil health and more efficient use of water and fertilizers, postharvest loss reduction, seed trials, and herbs and spices as an emerging value chain. They also witnessed farmers being trained on nursery preparations and management, that was also being aired live on national radio.

A youth group had an opportunity to explain what they do, the support they get from WorldVeg, their ambitions, and show the delegates their products. The committee was impressed by WorldVeg contributions to agriculture and youth empowerment, and Gabriel Rugalema reiterated the commitment to supporting Tanzania’s youth program, but that this desire was limited by the availability of resources.

The Parliamentary Committee expressed their admiration and sincere gratitude for the Center’s work, and extended congratulations to Gabriel Rugalema for his leadership, the wider WorldVes leadership, and all staff. The committee Vice Chair confirmed that what WorldVeg is doing not only aligns with national strategies, but also to the expectations of the president, Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan. The committee said they would ask the government allocate more land to support the Center’s activities, because WorldVeg has clearly demonstrated its capacity, and will look into modalities to support the Center’s mission and projects. The committee also suggested extending WorldVeg projects to other regions to reach more communities to and increase impact. In the end, a very memorable day indeed, with deeper connections made that will surely lead to greater impacts in the future.