TANZANIA
Location
Tanzania is an East African country situated on the Indian Ocean
just south of the Equator. It borders eight other nations: Kenya,
Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia,
Malawi, and Mozambique. The country extends about 1,040 km from
north to south and 1,080 km from east to west comprising a
territory of 945,100 km2. Elevation and distance from the sea
control the climate of Tanzania. Along the coastal belt, warm and
tropical weather conditions prevail. While the inland plateau is
hot and dry, the semi temperate highlands in the southwest are
better watered.
Agricultural sector
Tanzania's economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, which
accounts for half of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 90%
of the work force. The country is one of the world's largest
producers of sisal and cloves. Chief exported crops include
cashews, tobacco, cotton, coffee, tea and wheat. However, the
majority of agriculture is subsistence-oriented. Tanzania produces
cattle meat, cassava, maize, milk, rice, plantains, sorghum and
sweet potatoes for domestic consumption (FAO, 14.07.2006).
Overview of organic farming
The organic sector in Tanzania is still relatively
underdeveloped. About 55,867 hectares of land are under organic
cultivation, which accounts for 0.14 % of the total agricultural
area. Approximately 30,000 Tanzanian farmers use organic production
methods (IFOAM & FiBL 2006). These numbers include fully
converted land as well as "in conversion" land area. Recent surveys
show a clear upward trend in uncertified organic production
(UNEP/UNCTAD 2006). Considering the increasing international
demand, this indicates a high growth potential for the Tanzania
organic sector, but at the same time accentuates the need for
improvement in local certification capacities.
Key organic products
Certified organic produce from Tanzania includes cotton, coffee,
black tea, cocoa, ginger, spices, essential oils, honey, and cashew
nuts (IFOAM 2003). A number of other crops continue to be grown
organically "by default" without being certified. Production occurs
mainly through small-scale producer groups organised by commercial
companies. Since no domestic market exists, the organic sector
relies on exports to Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Japan,
Switzerland, United Kingdom, Indonesia and the United States. Most
of the products are sold in semi-processed or raw forms
(UNEP/UNCTAD 2006).
The network
The Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement (TOAM) was established
in May 2005. As an umbrella organization for various stakeholders'
initiatives, it aims at providing leadership and coordination in
developing and promoting the organic sector in Tanzania. Besides
stakeholder mobilisation and lobbying, TOAM's activities include
facilitation of research as well as extension work and training in
organic cultivation methods (UNEP/UNCTAD 2006).
The efforts of stakeholders groups also led to the formation of
a local certification body (TanCert) in 2004. The main aim of this
local facility is to reduce certification costs borne by farmers
that have confronted relatively expensive foreign certification
services so far.
Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement (TOAM)
Coordinatior: Jordan Gama
Room No. 7, Old post office building, Sokoine Drive
PO Box 105575
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Tel./Fax: (+255-22) 2124441
Email: mwatimajuma@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.kilimohai.org/
TanCert
Coordinator: Leonard Mtama
Room No. 7, Old post office building, Sokoine Drive
PO Box 70089
Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Tel./Fax: +225-22-212 44 41
E-mail: tancert@tancert.org
Website: www.tancert.org
External Support
The Tanzania organic agriculture sector has been receiving
support from the following external organisations amongst
others:
Centre for the
Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI)
Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO)
Export
Promotion of Organic Production in Africa (EPOPA)
International
Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM)
International Trade
Centre (ITC)
UNEP-UNCTAD Capacity
Building Taskforce on Trade Environment and Development
(CBTF)
References
- IFOAM & FiBL (2006): The World of Organic Agriculture.
Statistics and Emerging Trends 2006. International Federation of
Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), Bonn & Research
Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL, Frick, pp. 27-35.
- IFOAM (2003): Organic and Like-Minded Movements in Africa.
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM),
Bonn, pp.102-108.
- FAO, 14.07.2006: Key Statistics of Food and Agriculture
External Trade. Food and Agricultural Organization of the United
Nations (FAO), Statistics Division. URL:
www.fao.org/es/ess/toptrade/trade.asp?dir=exp&country=3&ryear=2004
and www.fao.org/es/ess/top/country.html?lang=en
- UNEP/UNCTAD (2006): The Status of Organic Agriculture
Production and Trading Opportunities in Tanzania. Project on
Promoting Production and Trading Opportunities for Organic
Agriculture in East Africa, Final Report.