Tanzania’s Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and the World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to improve research and development of vegetable crops, enhance nutrition, and increase food security in the country.

The agreement was signed on 20 July 2020 in Dar es Salaam by MOA Permanent Secretary Gerald Kusaya and Dr. Gabriel Rugalema, Regional Director, WorldVeg Eastern and Southern Africa.

The MOU covers three main areas: 1) collection, processing and storage of vegetable seeds for current and future research; 2) research on vegetable varieties resistant to diseases and pests, and tolerant to drought, floods, and climate change; and 3) building skills of scientists, agricultural extension officers, college students, and farmers through training in best agricultural techniques, new technologies and agribusiness in accordance with the wishes of the Government and other stakeholders.

Kusaya said the MOU is a continuation of the partnership agreement between the two entities which started in 1992, when the Government agreed to establish a Tengeru vegetable research center in Arusha on behalf of southern African countries (SADC).

“Through this agreement, we will be able to strengthen research on vegetable products and increase the skills and expertise of our experts, including students of our agricultural colleges, so that the vegetable industry can contribute effectively to productivity and contribute to GDP,” Kusaya said. He called for the creation of a small sub-committee in the ministry to monitor implementation of the agreement.

From 1997 to 2018 the World Vegetable Center has produced 18 quality vegetable varieties of different crops for Tanzania (including tomatoes, African eggplant, and amaranth). “Tomato seeds alone are estimated to have contribute $250 million to the Tanzanian economy over the past five years,” Dr. Rugalema said. “Tomato production increases employment and family income.”

WorldVeg has successfully trained more than 200,000 farmers in mainland Tanzania and the islands to grow vegetables and increase their incomes, said Rugalema. More than 2000 experts have received training at the WorldVeg Arusha office since 1994.

The partnership between the ministry and WorldVeg will work with MOA’s 14 agricultural training colleges, 17 agricultural research institutes, and 18 specialized centers to produce quality horticultural seeds to reach farmers across the country.