American People Highlight Agricultural Economic Activities in Morogoro

Mrs. Veronica Urio (right) shows U.S. Embassy Economic Officer, Mr. Tabari Dossett (in a black suit); the Uwawakuda Water Users' Association President Mr. George Iranga, (in a gray suit); and the Team Leader for the Feed the Future USAID/Tanzania, Mr. Tom Hobgood (at the back); her rice farm. She was trained under the Feed the Future Value Chain project on new planting techniques to improve her rice yield. Mrs. Urio is also a recipient of a Feed the Future Progressive Farmer Grant for $2000.

The Uwawakuda Water Users' Association President Mr. George Iranga, (in a suit), explains to journalists from different media houses, the importance of rehabilitating the Dakawa Pump Station which is used by over 2,000 farmers. The rehabilitation is supported by Feed the Future, the U.S. Government's global hunger and food security initiative.

The American people through the United States Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) hosted a press tour in Morogoro to highlight Global Economic Statecraft Day, a worldwide event focusing on the important economic work being conducted by U.S. diplomats and development professionals around the world.  In Tanzania, Feed the Future is the U.S. Government’s global hunger and food security initiative that aims to break the cycle of poverty and hunger.  The focus of the press tour on Thursday, June 14 this year was to learn about Feed the Future activities in Morogoro. 

The press tour in Morogoro began at the Dakawa Irrigation Scheme which supports over 2,000 small holder rice farmers and their families.  The Uwawakuda Water Users’ Association, which has a membership of 954 smallholder farmer members, is collaborating with Feed the Future to rehabilitate the Dakawa Pump Station and improve irrigation in the area.  At the site, the press corps participants viewed the irrigation canal and a demonstration plot on rice growing that is supported by the Feed the Future Value Chain project. 

At the Dakawa Irrigation Scheme demonstration site, presentations were given by David Nyange; Deputy Feed the Future Team Leader; Tabari Dossett, U.S. Embassy Economic Officer; George Iranga, Uwawakuda Association President. U.S. Embassy Economic Officer Tabari Dossett noted, “In Tanzania, Feed the Future's efforts prioritize the economic development of Tanzanian farmers through collaborative efforts between the U.S. government, Government of Tanzania and agricultural stakeholders including farmers.”

Victoria Urio, a recipient of a Feed the Future Progressive Farmer Grant for $2000 also spoke to the press about her Feed the Future grant and how it has advanced her production.  The tour then proceeded to Victoria’s farm to see how Feed the Future activities have directly benefitted her and her family.

Global Economic Statecraft Day was launched by the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2011 in order to elevate the importance of a global foundation of economic prosperity and cooperation.  Feed the Future's work with local entrepreneurs to address regional issues of poverty, trade, and food security embodies meaning of the Global Economic Statecraft Day agenda. 

 The strong partnership between the United States and the United Republic of Tanzania is highlighted though programs like Feed the Future that amplify Tanzanian-led agricultural initiatives such as the National Nutrition Strategy, the Southern Agriculture Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT), and the Tanzania Agriculture Food Security Investment Plan (TAFSIP), which will result in the Government of Tanzania allocating a minimum of 10 percent of its budget to the agriculture sector.