Friday 14 December, 2012 SUPPORTING THE PROMOTERS OF THE GREEN REVOLUTION

Talk to us for free sms KILIMO to 15774 [email protected] CLOVE PRICE: FARMERS DENOUNCE FOREIGN MARKETEERS

SPECIAL REPORT: ANALYSIS: NEW GREEN REVOLUTION ‘NUISANCE’ TAXES, WHAT FOR? MODEL…WHO IS BEHIND IT? Pages 4, 5 Pages 12 - 14 Friday 14 December, 2012 Friday 14 December, 2012 The Guardian KILIMO KWANZA The Guardian KILIMO KWANZA 2 EDITORIAL FOOD SECURITY 3

inside Climate change threatens New EJAT award to change rural lives food security, incomes

“climate-smart” agriculture across Tanzania, and especially in the south - ern highlands where much of the coun - try’s food is produced. This policy should seek to raise agricultural pro - ductivity in environmentally and so - cially sustainable ways. It should bolster the ability of smallholders to cope with the negative effects of climate change and should aim at reducing greenhouse gas emis - sions and increasing carbon storage on farmland. To develop and implement an appropriate and effective climate change policy for the country will be no easy task, but it is both urgent and es - sential. 6 Success will rest on building the knowledge and capacity of all stake - Clove farmers deserve more holders involved in the process. It is vi - tal to encourage informed discussion making and debate across the spec - trum of interested parties – from the than a spicy whiff of success general citizenry, farmers’ organisa - New green revolution tions and other local interest groups, like civil society entities, policymakers at all levels of government. TEMMING from the flower buds of ing in a deadlock that calls for a quick resolution. model in the offing A welcome and positive step in this an evergreen tropical plant, cloves The impasse has led to calls for increased direction is a 3-year Alliance for a are an aromatic herb that has many support and deregulation of the clove trade which Green Revolution (AGRA) funded proj - culinary, medicinal and aesthetic is a mainstay for the Isles’ economy. Coupled with ect that will be implemented by the uses. The aroma of the clove is pleas - intense international competition from other Tanzania Environment Policy Action ant, yet spicy and is used as deodor - clove producing states, the status quo is hurting Node and coordinated by the Open ant to freshen up rooms, drawers, closets and as the farmers as they heavily depend on the crop University of Tanzania’s Department of San ingredient in some perfumes and air freshen - for their livelihood. Environmental Studies. ers. Growing stiff competition in international The project will provide up-to-date When applied directly to muscle cramps, markets has also precipitated the need to brand information on climate change, and will clove oil has a stimulant and disinfectant effect Zanzibari cloves, which are believed to be a class strive to improve further the under - important in increasing blood circulation, disin - above the rest. Overall, there is a growing need to standing of the impact of climate fection and relieving pain and swelling. Used ex - revolutionise the clove trade. change on the smallholder agriculture ternally on the body, it can relieve the pain in In these days of the worldwide web and the and the coping and adaptation strate - chronic rheumatism, toothache and lumbago. free flow of facts, figures and opinion, it is regret - gies of the farmers in the breadbasket Cloves have also been used to relieve stomach table that our farmers still lack an appropriate region. gas and pain, to alleviate nausea and vomiting means of gauging international clove markets This information will be used to and are also used in the manufacture of body and thus set the prices for their crop. 12 promote the development of an evi - soaps, oils and toothpaste. In cooking, cloves are If, indeed, deregulation of the industry is the By Evelyn Namubiru-Mwaura, the growth of the agricultural sector is son as well as the shortening of the The government of Tanzania un - dence-based climate change policy, and invaluable in spicing up a wide range of foods. path to higher profits for farmers, then the pow - AGRA significant because it implies deepen - rainy season failure to accurately pre - derstands the importance of agricul - to encourage more political attention Pemba and Unguja islands are famous for ers relevant authorities should figure out how to ing poverty for the majority of the rural dict the onset of a rainy season has ture as a driver of general economic and commitment of resources – both the cultivation of the aromatic herb and were loosen the strings without hurting the revenue Country’s mainstay population. meant that some farmers are caught growth and that pinning economic de - public and private – to climate change once leading producers of the crop globally. gained from the trade. GRICULTURE, 95 per unprepared. velopment plans on improved agricul - issues in Tanzania. After years of setbacks in the development of Furthermore, greater access to agro-inputs cent of which is rain-fed, Challenges Some plant too early while others tural productivity is a risky strategy in An important part of the initiative the crop, last year the government and other like improved seeds, fertilisers and pesticides for supports the livelihoods of Increasing socio-economic growth, plant too late and end up losing their the face of impending climate change. entails capacity building for policymak - stakeholders launched a special plan to regener - the farmers should go a long way in upping the Is organic farming a two thirds of Tanzanians reducing food insecurity, and accelerat - investment in agriculture. The nation’s As a response, it has developed a ers and other stakeholders on what ate clove growing. However, shortage of proper quality and quantity of cloves reaped year on and employs 80 per cent ing poverty reduction in Tanzania, par - farmers – the vast majority of which fairly comprehensive plan, legislative adaptation to climate change implies, information on world market clove prices is hurt - year. solution to Africa? of the rural workforce. ticularly in rural areas, necessitates an are resource-poor smallholders – must and policy frameworks for environment and the necessary elements of an effec - ing Zanzibar’s clove farmers. We anticipate that cloves will continue to Majority of Tanzania’s population lives increase in agricultural productivity. find ways to adapt to these changing and natural resources management. tive adaptation and mitigation policy. The farmers have resorted to stockpiling the shape the economy of the Isles for the foreseeable iAn rural areas where communities rely Unfortunately, agricultural productivi - circumstances. For example, in 2007, the government Platforms for sharing information herb in the hope of gaining higher prices for their future. As such, rapid measures aimed at ensur - heavily on natural resources. For in - ty in Tanzania is highly susceptible to did develop a National Adaptation will be established, and workshops will produce. They have also complained of poor ac - ing that clove farmers reap more than a spicy stance, over 90 per cent of Tanzanians extreme weather variations and poor Programme of Action (Napa), which be held to improve the development cess to agro-inputs like seedlings, which in turn whiff of success from their sweat and toil, are rely on fuel wood from trees and other capitalisation. provides some useful information and and implementation of an effective cli - adversely affects their output. m o r e t h a n w e l c o m e . vegetation for their domestic energy re - Climate variability, a precursor of identifies several ways farmers can re - mate change policy. The government’s decision to raise the official quirements. climate change, is already affecting duce the impacts of climate change. The project will initially focus on price of cloves from 3,000/- to 15,000/- a kilo last Agriculture is the main economic Tanzania. Climatic patterns are becom - However, Napa is generally consid - five districts in the Southern Highlands year has gone a long way in curbing illegal trade activity, accounting for 45 per cent of ing both less predictable and more se - ered an inadequate framework for the which constitute part of Tanzania’s in the crop. But this has not translated into ready the country’s GDP and 55 per cent of vere. The National Vulnerability and An important part of kind of detailed planning and delivery breadbasket area. The lessons learned profits for the farmers, who are still losing out to foreign exchange earnings. The sector Adaptation Assessment of Tanzania es - of options needed for limiting the cli - there will help scale up adaptation and rogue traders and lack of direct access to the in - employs more than 80 per cent of the timate that northern and south eastern the initiative entails mate change impacts. A recent update mitigation practises across the country ternational markets. Citing high prices, some Wallace Mauggo population. In view of its importance to sectors of the country would experience capacity building for of the NSGRP includes the goal of en - and over the longer term. traders have abandoned the business, culminat - Editor the country’s economy; the trend in an increase in rainfall ranging from be - suring food and nutrition security, en - Still, this is only an initial step to - Tanzania’s agricultural sector has been tween 5 per cent and 45 per cent. The policymakers and vironmental sustainability, climate wards a comprehensive, evidence- of concern. central, western, south western, south - other stakeholders on change adaptation and mitigation, but based climate change policy. The path During the period 2000-2008 agri - ern and eastern parts of the country to achieve these goals requires a more that must be followed extends well into 16 culture realised a modest average might experience a decrease in rainfall what adaptation to specific policy on climate change. the future, and it takes time to develop growth rate of 4.4 per cent, far below of 10 to 15 per cent. climate change a national consensus on issues like cli - the National Strategy for Growth and Another climate change related Climate-smart farming mate change. But a consensus must be Reduction of Poverty (NSGRP I) target challenge to agriculture is the unpre - implies... The government needs to develop reached if Tanzania is to minimise the Artwork & Design : KN Mayunga To have your organisation promoted in Kilimo Kwanza, Call: 0782 253 676, 0713 615 072 of 10 per cent by 2010. This trend in dictability in the onset of the rainy sea - “ and implement a policy that promotes adverse impacts of climate change. Friday 14 December, 2012 Friday 14 December, 2012 The Guardian KILIMO KWANZA The Guardian KILIMO KWANZA 4 SPECIAL REPORT SPECIAL REPORT 5 Farmers decry ‘nuisance’ taxes By Milly Sanga, ACT

RODUCE cess is a levy paid by farmers along the value chain. In many cas - …From the horse’s mouth es, this is levied as a per - centage of the value of the produce sold or intended to be sold. The central government has Pgiven local government authorities What farmers say (LGAs) a lee-way to charge agro pro - duce anything between 2 and 5 per cent of its value as tax or cess. Understandably, most LGAs are max - imising this freedom by charging 5 per about produce cess cent. The Agricultural Council of By Milly Sanga, ACT or paddy from the farm could be re - Tanzania (ACT) believes that since garded, as a farmer, but when the same farming is a risky undertaking, and the ARMERS are forced to pay pro - person carries a consignment of 200 profit margin is not only too small, but duce cess while by-laws indi - bags, for instance, it becomes very diffi - also in some cases not there, the cess cate clearly that crop buyers cult to believe such as person is a imposed on farmers’ produce should be should pay the levy. Local farmer. revisited. FGovernment Authorities (LGAs) are “In the past, it was easy to recog - Another irregularity is the fact that empowered to impose produce cess of In the past, it was easy nise a farmer since they had a letter the cess is paid by farmers (directly or up to 5 per cent on agricultural pro - to recognise a farmer from ward executive officers. Now, it’s indirectly) at the selling point, whereas duce. The fees increase farm opera - very difficult to tell who is a trader and crop traders are the one who are bound tional costs and can hinder farmers’ since they had a letter who is not, especially during harvests,” by law to pay the cess. The by-laws and economic and social development. said the district treasurer. directives are clear on this; the problem Burden to farmers from ward executive Responding to a concern that funds is that, law enforcers are either igno - A PADDY farmer, Tatu Kachege, officers. Now, it’s very collected as produce cess didn’t benefit rant about this issue or just keep their stated that, according to by-laws crop farmers, in terms of services, he said: eyes shut. buyers are supposed to pay produce difficult to tell who is "Revenue from produce cess is very Farmers are bitter cess. She further stated that in Kilosa, a trader and who is small and is used to finance general op - All farmers visited were very bitter produce cess is collected through pri - erations of the district council, includ - about crop taxation. Among the most vate agents. “These agents don’t distin - not, especially during ing paying sitting allowances to coun - outspoken opponents of the cess is guish between farmers and traders. cillors and salaries to council staff”. Reuben Matango who resides in Sometimes, both traders and farmers harvests Habara argued that farmers and Mtibwa ward, Mvomero district. His pay the levy. We pay 2,000/- per bag of traders shouldn’t expect much from the main economic activity is cane growing. paddy,” she stated. produce cess collected due to the fact Mr Matango is also a member of Kachege pointed out that, agents operational costs, including money that “most traders refuse to pay”. Mtibwa Outgrowers Association (Moa), who collect produce cess are a major spent on farm preparation, buying in - However, he said the levy was a key and here is what he said: “I believe problem in their locality, as they keep puts, planting seedlings, and harvest - source of revenue for local councils in there is a wrong interpretation of the on harassing farmers by forcing them ing the produce, were very high. the country's agriculturally dependent by-law which governs tax collectors. to pay the fees contrary to the law. “Most of the time, produce cess areas. The standing order is that any taxation “Sometimes, we are told to leave the forces me to sell my paddy shortly after Roadblocks another ‘nuisance’ on the farm produce should be paid by paddy maize behind to compensate the “harvesting so that I can earn some Road blocks are commonly used to the buyer, not the producer. amount of produce cess they want us to money to pay it…the profit that I get is collect produce cess. However, these “In reality, this is not the case be - pay,” she said. reduced and sometimes, I get less com - have been causing unnecessary crop cause the assessment and collection of She suggested that, there was a pared to what I have invested,” damage, disturbances and delays, con - the cess is often done at the farmer’s need to review laws and regulations to Lyanzille complained. sidering the perishable nature of some gate.” Matango said that the govern - key issues. We have witnessed many Small scale farmers are the most hit. duction. It is absurd to demand produce areas and wish to transport agricultur - that, in practice, it’s very rare to realise tors to exercise discretions when col - address weaknesses such as differences A word from treasurer crops. ment should make sure this order is ho - complaints made by farmers question - Moreover, the stakeholders fail to tax, whether a farmer has made profit al produce from their farms to their the penalties due to poor law enforce - lecting produce cess; differences in pro - in produce cess rates in district coun - Kilosa District Treasurer Nicolaus A private cess collector, who has noured, as well as put to task anyone ing the legality of paying cess whereas understand why cess is demanded at or not. In all fairness, the cess should homes, are required to pay produce ment. They reason out that it can take duce cess rates, even within the same cils. Haraba confirmed that traders were been assigned to do the work by who deliberately breaches it. the rural infrastructures were in a every check point, regardless whether be charged on profit”. cess as well. months, or even years, to conclude one district; and lack of manpower and skill A maize farmer located in Kilosa, supposed to pay the produce cess, not Thobby Traders Company at Malui He made another very disturbing shamble. They need all weather roads, the crop harvested is for household con - Administration of produce cess “You cannot contest the local gov - case in court. This is why usually dis - to enforce compliance. Nshiku Kigalu, said farm operational farmers. However, he acknowledged gate in Kilosa, Elias Maswa, said: "A revelation. Sugarcane growers sell crop storage facilities, reliable trans - sumption. It is very seldom for small A study conducted by the Centre ernment officials on this issue, unless trict council officials negotiate with ACT argues that responsible bod - costs were very high and produce cess that those collecting the cess most of farmer who passes the gate with less their crop to Mtibwa Sugar Factory. portation system, market centres with farmers to argue their case with un - for Sustainable Development Initiative you have a written proof from the vil - traders on how much should be paid, ies should review the produce tax made farmers’ lives difficult. He added the time failed to distinguish between than 20 bags of crops does not pay pro - Before the cane is accepted for process - necessary amenities, and so on. compromising tax collectors and win. (CSDI) have revealed that in Kilosa lage executive officer where your farm which in most cases is lower than the regime; reduce the cess rates to make that some farmers had decided not to farmers and traders. duce cess…We have been contracted ing, a tax collector is on the spot to de - Some officials at the district level Another astonishing revelation is district, farmers, who reside in urban is located. A letter to this effect is hard actual amount. them realistic and affordable; har - harvest their maize to avoid paying the According to him, when a person with the district council to collect the mand the cess which currently is 3 per reason out that the government is un - that part of the money collected by to get unless a farmer offers “some - Challenges in administering monise the cess rates in the whole controversial produce cess. who is transferring three bags of maize levy. Anyone who passes with more cent. This is the amount charged by decided on how to handle this issue be - LGAs by some agents is not delivered thing”. “What a vicious circle,” asserted produce cess country with a view to minimise illegal “The District Council, through its than 20 bags must pay the cess”. Mvomero local authority. cause, apart from the subvention which to the District Treasury as the law re - Bruno Lyanzile, a vegetable grower. LGA officials admit that colleting trading; and more importantly, ensure private cess collector, doesn’t distin - What should be done? This is ridiculous, if one compares the central government dishes out an - quires. One fails to understand why A survey carried out by CSDI in produce cess is not an easy task. The that the cess is pegged on the antici - guish between farmers and LGAs must change methods they it with the 0.3 per cent which the sugar nually, the next major source of income such agents are not taken to task. five districts of Kilosa, Babati, Moshi, main challenges include, lack of a prop - pated net profit rather than the current traders…we are all paying produce use in collecting produce cess and facil - factory pays the government as an in - is produce levy. In other words, LGAs Could it be a defrauding conspiracy! Iringa, and Mvomero, identified three er feasibility study to establish the po - trend of assessing the commodity at cess. This is very unfair and the by- itate agents commissioned to collect the dustrial cess. What is the rationale? A cannot survive if produce cess is not The whole exercise is imbibed with se - main approaches that are employed to tential amount of revenue a cess agent the selling point. laws don’t provide for this [farmers to levy to identify traders from farmers, big brother is charged 0.3 per cent, forthcoming. crecy which makes one suspect shoddy collect produce cess. They are, using can collect in an area allocated to him; Here is an advice from ACT chief: pay the cess],” Kigalu stressed. who fall victim of the entire process by while a small brother is asked to pay Asked to comment on this issue, deals. Produce cess rates LGAs administrative structure; farm - lack of competent bidders, probably “Produce cess rates should be reduced, He suggested that the council incurring unnecessary operational ten times of that amount? Foya, a Crop Officer in Mvomero dis - These farmers have a number of should be reduced, ers’ cooperatives or associations or pri - due to inadequate advertising in the and there are indications that the cur - should intervene and give directives to Sometimes, we are costs. So far, there is no clear and con - trict, said: “This argument holds water, arguments. One, they detest levying vate companies that buy agricultural mass media, or lack of qualified compa - rent level of revenue for local govern - private cess collectors not to charge told to leave the However, ACT views that the easi - vincing explanation for the variance in but what is contended is the level of agricultural produce because it is a dis - and there are commodities direct from farmers; and nies in the locality; and weaknesses in ments can be maintained or improved, farmers. The farmer also suggested the est and best way to address the prob - the taxation system. For sure, this sys - taxation, the variation in taxation, and incentive. Second, in most cases tax col - indications that the private cess collection agents. the contracts. This could be attributed provided that efficient and effective col - rate of cess being charged be reduced to paddy maize behind lem is abolishing produce cess and re - tem favours the industrial sector, the remuneration. Paying taxes is a lectors do not offer bona fide receipts for Many officials I talked to said that to incompetence in writing or handling lection mechanisms are employed. enable traders to comply in paying to compensate the placing it with another levy that would - which is by comparison less risky. ACT civic obligation, but tax payers have the the money collected. Third, cess collec - current level of cess collectors and traders were obliged contracts. Moreover, differences in produce cess them. n’t trouble farmers any more. is urging the government to harmonise right to question the reason for paying”. tion is poorly administered and dubious to remit whatever has been collected in Other challenges are failure of the rates kill the spirit of competitiveness”. Meanwhile, Kigalu complained amount of produce There will be no winners and losers the taxation regime. Law abiding citi - Who benefits? because not all the money is delivered. revenue for local full, yet this rarely happens. Likewise, private collectors to submit monthly re - that money collected from farmers er - in such a policy, but it is hoped that zens are duty bound to pay taxes, but A cross section of stakeholders who ACT executive director Janet governments can be traders are obliged to pay the levy im - turns and supporting documents as roneously as produce cess didn’t benefit cess they want us to these changes would considerably re - they must be fair and must be reflected were interviewed in Kilosa and Bitegeko pointed out another con - mediately after buying crops from stipulated in the contract; lack of effec - Send your comments farmers. pay duce barriers to marketing for agricul - in the services the government offers Kilombero districts, said crop cess, tentious issue. “Cess collectors demand maintained or farmers. On default, the fine is any - tive mechanism to monitor the collec - for free starting Another farmer, who grows paddy tural produce and lower compliance its citizen. which in most cases is 5 per cent, push - levy at check points and markets cen - improved thing between 70,000/- and 200,000/-. tion exercise, and audit the books; lack with CESS to 15774 in Kilosa District’s Tindiga village, costs for all participants in the agricul - Fairness and quality service are es them on the brink of bankruptcy. tres without considering the cost of pro - “ However, district officials admit of trust which allows the private collec - Bruno Lyanzille, pointed out that farm “ tural sector. Friday 14 December, 2012 Friday 14 December, 2012 The Guardian KILIMO KWANZA The Guardian KILIMO KWANZA 6 AWARD GENDER 7 Strengthening gender equity in agriculture

certification. Gender measures As a fairly-traded cocoa manager candidly said, “We are forced to do so by the standard.” His company is making considerable efforts to address gender inequality, employing more women, and insisting that women as well as men farmers get training. The experience has taught him les - sons, as he explained, “Women don’t think they can do things but they are good workers, careful. Other employers may think they are unreliable.” It makes good economic sense to ensure women are fully included. Meticulous, responsible, and quick to By Michael Farrelly, Toam a fair share of benefits related to their sell it raw and unfermented to the mid - learn, women are strongly motivated to contributions in production, harvest dlemen (mjemuka) in order to get mon - work for the benefit of their families. Little has been done and processing. ey for the upkeep of the family. They Harness that motivation and you cap - The study found that Kyela women sell it to the middlemen at low prices ture major improvements to productiv - HE informal slogan of the typically work three hours per day because selling to registered companies ity, quality, and income. International Decade of longer than men. Apart from working can be noticed by her husband.” A female farmer suggested, Women (1976-1985) be - on the farm, they also have to clean, Family disputes over cocoa income “Awareness has to be created for people came “Women do two- cook and look after the children. Sadly, Women do two-thirds can spark gender-based violence. to realize that both of them, men and thirds of the world’s work, it is men who sell the cocoa beans and Sometimes, if a wife tries to ask her women, contribute to producing cocoa receive 10 per cent of the have final say on how the money is of the world’s work, husband about the money he received and thus equal ownership of cocoa and New EJAT award to change rural lives world’s income and own one per cent of spent. receive 10 per cent of from selling the cocoa, she could be an equal say on spending money Tthe means of production.” Twenty-five Sharing incomes threatened or beaten up. earned is essential”. years on, as the African Union launch - Luckily, since the cocoa has gained the world’s income When women are fully involved, Launching the African Women’s By Kilimo Kwanza new category include; reporting on the some countries, more trusted than the Agricultural policies must indeed im - es the African Women’s Decade (2010- organic certification, farmers’ incomes not only in production, but also in Decade, Songea firner United Nations Correspondent rural business environment (topics re - government. The issues that make life pact effectively on growth and provide 2020), it seems that little has changed have increased significantly from and own one per cent training and decision making, the qual - Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose lating to doing business), reporting on unbearable for the rural poor are so for markets that work for the poor. in Tanzania. around 300/- to 2,800/- per kilo, which of the means of ity and productivity increases. Migiro said, “Empowering women is a HE Agricultural Non rural citizen engagement (topics on the relevantto influencing the develop - I truly hope that more journalists About two hours drive south of has benefitted both men and women in Certification has added some extra moral imperative, a question of funda - State Actors Forum local budget cycle, notably the plan - ment agenda both at the local level as take this new award to stimulate their Mbeya, on the shores of Lake Nyasa, is the community. Today, families have production… workload, but women say the addition - mental rights. It is also sound policy. (Ansaf) and Business ning and implementation for agricul - well as the national level. It is crucial interest to write on issues that a perti - the famous Kyela. The district is brick houses with corrugated iron roofs, al family benefits far outweigh the ex - Investing in women and girls is one of Environment ture and agri-business) and reporting Let us, media that there is an increase in reporting nent to the vast majority of the rural known for its high quality rice and or - and better access to education and tra effort. the greatest investments we can make. Strengthening for on agriculture and agri-business (top - on agriculture and agribusiness issues population. Let us, media personnel, ganic cocoa production. Around three healthcare. Some have satellite TV and Certification has had no impact on “We must ensure that rural women Tanzania- Advocacy ics on new policies, innovations, best personnel, private and that, journalists find an entry private sector and government take quarters of Kyela’s 120,000 farmers access to solar electricity. gender equity in land ownership. can access the legal, financial and tech - Component (Best-AC) have launched a practice and issues in the sector). sector and govt take point to bring a difference. the challenge to be catalysts for posi - grow cocoa, first introduced by Ghana’s One male cocoa farmer told the Women rarely own land as ownership nological tools they need to progress Tnew category at the Excellence in More coverage from the rural ar - In order to stimulate growth and tive change and champion the rights of Kwame Nkrumah, as a legacy of his study team: “Money was so little. I was passes from father to son. However, as from subsistence agriculture to produc - Journalism Awards Tanzania (Ejat) eas will actually start to shift the the challenge to be up scaling in the agricultural sector, small holder farmers and all those en - friendship with Mwalimu Julius not bothering to show it to my wife or a result of increased incomes, one can tive agriculture. Let us accept in our awards. thinkingabout being a farmer and information on the ease or unease of gaged in agriculture and agribusiness Nyerere. inform her on how I spent it. I used the see many Kyela women now riding bi - minds, and in our laws, that women are The category will focus on agricul - hopefully open up opportunities for di - catalysts for positive being a small holder farmer or entre - in rural Tanzania. Tanzania Organic Agriculture little I received for drinking alcohol. cycles, and chatting on mobile phones. rightful and equal partners – to be pro - ture and agribusiness and for the first alogue with government. change and champion preneur in rural Tanzania is central. Journalists are encouraged to Movement (Toam) was asked to pre - But nowadays, we are deciding togeth - The study team found that differ - tected, to be respected, and to be time, this category is outside of the The media have always played a The agro sector is one of the key en - write more and submit their entries to pare a case study of the impact of certi - er and we discuss on how to spend our “ ent types of certification have very dif - heard”. business category that it was in before. role to inform audiences, shine the the rights of small gines for generating jobs for youth. EJAT to contest for this new category. fication on gender relations in Kyela by income as a family.” ferent impacts on gender relations. The Gender and Global Standards Hopefully, this sufficiently motivates light on injustices/ irregularities and Keeping up with changes in the ru - the development partner, Hivos, as The problems start when men fail While there was very little impact as a Initiative is undertaken by four organi - journalists throughout the country to also inspire processes that drive holder farmers... ral areasand sharingbest practice to Send your comments part of the International Gender and to share the money or involve women in result of ‘organic’ certification on its zations in the Netherlands: Hivos, cover agriculture and agribusiness is - change. In advanced societies, media stimulate vibrant public-private dia - for free starting Global Standards Initiative. This aims decision-making. One woman confided, own, the team noticed considerable im - Oxfam Novib, Solidaridad and the sues. The sub-categories under this have become trusted by many and in “ logue in the rural areas is essential. with EJAT to 15774 to ensure that men and women receive “Women harvest the unripe cocoa and pact as a result of additional ‘fair trade’ Royal Tropical Institute. Friday 14 December, 2012 Friday 14 December, 2012 The Guardian KILIMO KWANZA The Guardian KILIMO KWANZA 8 COVER STORY COVER STORY 9 Clove farmers cry foul, denounce foreign marketeers By Kilimo Kwanza Reporter kilo.” That’s why the government is where they sell it at a higher price. LOVE farmers have com - worried that, if farmers keep their Zanzibar Industry, Trade and plained about low prices cloves, they may sell to smugglers – Marketing minister Mazrui informed offered by dishonest for - middlemen from Mombasa, Kenya that between 2001 and 2009, Kenya eign buyers taking ad - where the price is high. sold 9,510 kilograms of cloves, worth vantage of their igno - He further said that the Zanzibar USD16m. East Africa’s biggest econo - rance of international Clove Task Force has been urging my does not produce cloves. market prices. The farmers believe, if farmers in Pemba to sell their clove to Zanzibar's first vice-president Cfarmers were aware of the actual price the Zanzibar State Trading Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad, who have in the international markets, things Cooperation (ZSTC). “I don’t intend to been directly involved in government- could have been different, all together. sell my cloves to smugglers, but I have led efforts to curb smuggling of the Zanzibar Clove Producers decided to store them for selling when crop outside the country says, the gov - Organisation (Zacpo) executive direc - I need cash,” said Omar Hamad, a ernment of national unity (GNU) cur - tor, Ramla Abbas, revealed this during North Pemba farmer said. rently ruling the Isles, will award up to an interview with Kilimo Kwanza The clove price increase by the gov - 20 per cent of the market price of con - Supplement reporter. “The farmers sell ernment last year was aimed at moti - fiscated cloves to anyone with informa - it to foreigners at a price of 15,000 per vating farmers to sell locally and dis - tion which may lead to the arrest of kilo, and then they sell it to other coun - couraging middlemen to smuggle the clove smugglers. tries such as Kenya before the product crop to Kenya and elsewhere. “Since the government has hiked is taken to international markets On the other hand, the People’s clove prices there is no justification for where it unfairly earns middlemen Bank of Zanzibar (PBZ) has spent a to - clove smuggling, which denies the gov - more than farmers,” she said. tal 69bn/- on purchasing cloves from ernment revenues and leaves clove Meanwhile, the Zacpo leader ex - farmers in the 2011/12 harvesting sea - farmers in poverty,” argues the vice- pressed a grave concern over obstacles son. PBZ’s director of Marketing and president. that farmers faced in exporting the Business Growth, Juma Hafidhi, re - Scepticism about regeneration crop; as a result clove exports have vealed this in an interview with Kilimo Clove growers are sceptical about been affected substantially. She said, Kwanza reporter. He said PBZ had the current regeneration path taken by clove farmers want the government to been very close to clove farmers by the government and its agencies in an address the problem in order to buying their produce since the season effort to bring back to new life the clove smoothen exportation of clove. started. industry in Zanzibar. The farmers feel “If the government removed the ob - “We have used 69b/- in the 2011/12 that focusing just on few issues like stacles and gave farmers information season where most of it came from price to revive such a huge industry about prices in the international mar - Pemba where farmers had a bumper won’t help a great deal. kets, they would only set or accept fair harvest,” he said. Hafidhi said that the The growers, through their associ - prices,” she said. bank had so far managed to attract ation Zacpo, want authorities to do Zacpo calls for the implementation more farmers to save their money once more, in terms of policy as well as in of government’s 2003 plan for clove they sold their crops. the actual implementation of reforms, market liberalisation with a view to He explained how the bank had to fully regenerate the Isles backbone making the industry at par with global succeeded to encourage farmers in the sector. changes and realities. With support Isles by conducting seminars meant to In its final Clove Advocacy Report from Best-AC, Zacpo commissioned re - provide education on the importance of compiled by Zacpo Advocacy Project search into issues of liberalization of banks. "This is an important issue be - external consultant Juma Ali Juma in the clove market. The report was pre - cause most of the people do not know July last year, the organisation states sented in 2010 and indicated that the or have never gone to a bank to ask categorically that restoring the government should accelerate the pace procedures for opening an account," he Zanzibar’s lost clove industry glory re - of deregulation of the clove industry to said. A total of 70.8bn/- has been spent quires purposeful actions to rework the give a new thrust in sector perform - on purchasing 4.7 million kilos of clove entire system – not just dealing with ance as projected under the planned since the beginning of the clove har - a memorandum of understanding patches. The report, which contains in - market liberalisation. A disbandment vesting season last July, according to (MoU) to brand cloves. Before the sign - puts from two independent consult - of ZSTC, currently controlling the the deputy minister for Industry, ing of the tripartite agreement at a cer - ants – Alex Mkindi and Zeinab Ngazy, price, would allow for the liberalization Trade and Marketing Swaybah Kisasi. emony held in Zanzibar, the minister calls for the scrutiny of the entire sec - of the value chain and end smuggling He said during the season, the gov - of Trade, Industry and Marketing, tor, setting up of a strong foundation as there would be no longer any incen - ernment through ZSTC, succeeded to Nassor Mazrui said, “we need effective for its viability and stability as well as tive. buy the clove by achieving 157 per cent branding.” exposing it to the new challenges in the Recently farmers were reportedly of the target. He said the target was to Zanzibar is committed to the global arena. reluctant to sell their crop to the gov - buy 3,000 tonnes of the crop, but fol - process of branding, a strategy to - The government should commission a “The government should commis - ernment due to the low price offered. lowing the price increase by the gov - wards the achievement of cloves devel - thorough investigation into the actual sion a thorough investigation into the The move forced the government to in - ernment, illegal clove trading has been opment objectives. The participation of actual clove production and export crease the price from 3,500/- to 15,000/- controlled. Wipo and ITC in the process is signifi - clove production and export data to data to enable an independent, trans - per kilo for that season. There are, He said that Wete District on cant,” said Mazrui. parent, complete and authentic eco - however, no guarantees that in the Pemba Island was the one that led af - The minister said the project in - enable an independent, transparent, nomic analysis of the clove industry for near future the price will follow inter - ter succeeding to sell a total of 1,577 cludes enhancement of intellectual complete and authentic economic analysis informed decisions on the sector,” it national market prices unless the clove tonnes, whereby farmers obtained a to - property (IP), legal institutional frame - states. market is liberalized. tal of 23.6m/- in earnings. This was fol - work, strengthening of the use of IP of the clove industry for informed Zacpo also calls for the speeding up Constitutional Reform lowed by Mkoani District on Pemba system and its awareness, defining the decisions on the sector of law and regulation reforms to im - Commissioner Ali Abubakar said that Island, which sold a total of 1,262 type and ownership of IP titles and prove performance with a view to mak - current regulation prohibiting people tonnes of cloves and earned farmers a countries where the protection is Nyerere commended authorities in cloves produced in Zanzibar, which ing the industry at par with global from storing clove was oppressive and total of 18.7m/. sought. Zanzibar on the move to restore the was once the world number one pro - changes and realities. It states: “The should be abolished. “Most farmers in He said, furthermore, that the gov - Branding is an effective tool to clove industry, adding that her organi - ducer and exporter of the crop, was far government should accelerate the pace Pemba are poor and have little knowl - Zanzibar President ernment would continue to make ef - fight both income and none income sation would work closely with all better compared to those grown in oth - of deregulation of the clove industry to edge in keeping money in banks. They Dr Ali Mohamed Shein forts to develop the crop because it was poverty. The minister emphasized that plays to make the project successful. er parts of the world. give a new thrust in sector perform - should be allowed to keep their cloves very important to the economy of the signing of the MoU creates yet an - President Shein also told the farm - Clove smuggling ance as projected under market liber - until they are ready to sell them,” Zanzibar, especially in stepping up ef - other opportunity to revolutionalise ers that his government intends to Dr Shein says latest planned alisation.” Abubakar said. forts to reduce income poverty. clove commercial strategies and to brand Zanzibar cloves in order to dif - measures, including branding of cloves He added that the government Clove branding take advantage of the growing global ferentiate them from that produced in grown in Zanzibar, will help curb Send your comments price of 15,000/- per kilo still was un - The World Intellectual Property market opportunities for cloves and re - other parts of the world, including smuggling. Clove smuggling is cur - for free starting fair compared to the world market Organisation (Wipo), International lated spices. Indonesia and Madagascar. rently high in the Isles where dhow with CLOVE to 15774 price, which is more than 40,000/- per Trade (ITC) and Zanzibar have signed Wipo representative Neema “He said he strongly believed that traders transport the crop to Kenya Friday 14 December, 2012 Friday 14 December, 2012 The Guardian KILIMO KWANZA The Guardian KILIMO KWANZA 10 REGULATION REGULATION 11

Government okays cereals exportation

From page 10 chasing, transporting and exporting. The latest study by Tanexa has re - Milling Corporation (NMC), Joshua vealed that export businesses of 61 per Mtinangi, says the problem could be cent of food exporters, who were inter - solved once the NMC becomes fully op - viewed, reported to be highly con - erational. He says that the SGR should strained by the food permit system. not be entirely blamed for the shortfall According to the report, 19 per cent because the agency was solely respon - were severely affected and 38 per cent sible for buying grain for sale during were significantly negatively affected. emergencies, not for buying excess pro - The study further revealed that 56 duce. per cent – more than half of those in - Permits: A real nuisance terviewed – said food export permits The Integrated Food Security and have caused their businesses to incur Nutrition Assessment System (IFS - losses. Urgent measures to improve the NAS), is charged with issuing letters of cost of doing business and the business authorisation to export staple cereal climate for exporting food commodities foodstuffs. As a result, small food prod - to EAC and SADC regions are re - uct traders at Mutukula area in quired. Kagera region smuggles small quanti - The study finds lack of awareness, ties [between 5 and 30 kilograms] of transparency and clarity on what is re - maize, beans and bananas. quired in relation to the letter of autho - “We cannot afford to go through the risation to export food. As a result, even long procedure of obtaining district, re - when these letters are not required, gional and national letters of authori - they continue to be issued. sation for export,” one of the small “This requirement can however be traders was quoted as saying. “In the traced back to 1980s when Tanzania process, we have lost the business, and had a centralised and closed economy this has contributed greatly to increas - that discouraged trade with neighbour - ing poverty in these areas,’ he adds. ing countries. Also, agricultural trade On top of that, rice exporters from policies at the time discouraged private Mbeya claim that charges associated traders and middlemen,” the study with obtaining letters of authorisation says. Tanzania has a bi-modal rain for exporting staple cereal food stuffs season which allows up to two planting are high. “Smallholder food farmers seasons in most parts. The system in - Trade Minister and traders cannot obtain the permits, forms the Disaster Prevention Division Dr Abdallah Kigoda as a result those attempting to export of the Prime Minister’s Office on the cereals tend to use agents, which again general situation of food availability, is costly,” laments one of the traders, access and forecast in the country. who preferred anonymity. The system does this by conducting According to the Tanexa study, the vulnerability assessment and issuing thorisation even when an export quota crease productivity in order to have explains why rice importers from DR early warning reports on food scarcity, or ban has been lifted,” informed a vic - surplus for the export market. Congo, Kenya, Malawi and Zambia which then triggers a national notice to tim of the system. They also underscored a need for travel to Mbeya to buy rice directly impose either a food export quota or “There is simply no clear informa - the government to understand that tra - from farmers before transporting it recommends for official food export. tion on what needs to be done at these ditional export crops such as coffee, themselves to their countries. This Bribes at check-points check-points. As a result, exporters face sisal, cashew nuts and cotton are no business could have been done by Exporters, who were interviewed, delays, fail to meet supply commit - longer beneficial to farmers leading By Kilimo Kwanza Reporter can find better prices. Tanzanians, if the permits barrier was - as part of the study, said they often ments and incur losses, particularly of them to opt for food crop production as As a result of the ban, grains, par - n’t there. faced solicitations for bribes at check perishable foodstuffs. Cereals are also cash crops. The study stated that food Ban is lifted ticularly maize, pilled-up in different Graft: No cash, no permit points even if they had letters of autho - perishable, as they can rot if exposed to production is generally low across EAC parts of the country after the Strategic An association for crop buyers in risation to export food. If a trader does rain or high humidity, and pests can There is simply no and SADC while markets for different ARMERS in the country Grain Reserve (SGR) unit failed to Ruvuma region argues that the process not give in to corruption, he or she faces damage the consignment if it is im - types of food are is readily available. It have a reason to smile, fol - purchase all of it. During his official of obtaining permits was marred by unnecessary delays while doing physi - pounded,” informed the victim, who clear information on therefore calls for the Ministry of lowing the government visit of Rukwa recently, President corrupt practices. Moreover, the per - cal verification to ensure the consign - also preferred anonymity. what needs to be Agriculture, Food Security and decision to lift a controver - Government okays Jakaya Kikwete admitted the short - mits only applied in districts where ment tallies with the amount autho - Exporters, through Tanexa, pro - Cooperatives to implement reforms sial ban on exportation of fall, promising to seek ways to sort out they have been issued, when the rised and other bureaucratic red-tape pose that the government should elimi - done at these check- and abolish the letter of authorisation cereals. The Minister for the problem. traders pass through other districts, procedures, with the whole process be - nate the letter of authorisation as a re - for staple foodstuffs. Trade and Industry, Dr Abdallah Philemon ole Mollel, the chairman they were required to obtain similar coming harassment to exporters. quirement to export staple grain food points. As a result, These findings were shared at a FKigoda, announced the good news of the northern regions grain board letters of authorisation. As a result, the “This is worsened by the fact that crops something which they say will exporters face delays, stakeholder workshop earlier this year when responding to the Tanzania based in Arusha lauds the government traders were forced to use illegal routes police officers and customs officials at translate into increased productivity which was attended by exporters of Exporters Association (Tanexa) recent cereals exportation move to lift the ban, which he says to smuggle food crops to neighbouring check points are themselves not aware amongst farmers. They also state that fail to meet supply agricultural products to the EAC and study findings. The study focused on demonstrates that the sitting govern - Mozambique across River Ruvuma. of what is required. There is no clarity these letters deny Tanzanian exporters commitments and SADC regions and representatives of food export permits and was financed that they can be able to earn more be - the government is creating centres for the farmers,” he explains. ment has heeded a call made by farm - The government introduced in and transparency on what is needed, chance to successfully compete with key government ministries. by the Business Environment cause the foreigners are buying it at farmers where they can sell their cere - Two years ago, the government ers producing cereals all over the coun - 1991 a legislation which requires ex - when, by whom and for what. Officers counterparts in the EAC and SADC re - incur losses Strengthening for Tanzania- Advocacy cheaper prices and selling them als. “The farmers have not been bene - banned exportation of grains due to try. porters of foodstuffs to obtain letters of still have a mind-set that can be histor - gion. component (BEST-AC). abroad at higher prices, as a result fiting because the foreign buyers are the shortage occasioned by drought. On limited capacity of the SGR, authorisation from respective districts. ically traced to the days of closed econ - The exporters further find that low Send your comments “The government has decided to farmers don’t benefit,” says the minis - dictating the market price… this is the But recently there have been calls to the Regional Manager of the National According to the Food Security Act, the omy where all export business was re - agriculture production is the prime fac - for free starting allow farmers to export their cereals ter. reason why the government right now allow farmers, and grain traders alike, letters, or permits for that matter, ap - garded as smuggling. Furthermore, tor that underlies food export quotas or with PERMITS to 15774 whenever they want to take them, so Dr Kigoda also says that currently hase started establishing centres for to sell their produce abroad where they Continues page 11 ply to all transactions including pur - they continue to ask for letters of au - bans. They say there is a need to in - “ Friday 14 December, 2012 Friday 14 December, 2012 The Guardian KILIMO KWANZA The Guardian KILIMO KWANZA 12 ANALYSIS ANALYSIS 13 From page 12 cure. Joining a biased system like UPOV will ensure that the South's in - proach is already working in some ar - tegration into Northern-controlled eas of Tanzania, and until now has New green revolution markets increases, but not for the ben - been encouraged by government under efit of those who are hungry today. the Quality Declared Seed system. If Graham Dutfield, Professor of the seeds are patented under the new International Governance at Leeds law, this practice will be outlawed. model in the offing University School of Law, states: Global seed giants’ interests “Critics contend that the UPOV system According to the non-profit ETC scale agricultural projects wherever of economic independence and re - the narrow sense, the right to freely is unsuited to the agricultural charac - International Treaty on Plant Genetic Group, the world's six largest agro - land is cheap – and it doesn’t get much silience in the face of threats such as save seed from the harvest is curtailed. teristics of developing countries, but Resources (ITPGRFA) as well as the chemical manufacturers, who control cheaper than in Tanzania. pests, diseases or climate change. In the wide sense, UPOV does not rec - that UPOV is suited for and promotes Convention on Biological Diversity nearly 75 per cent of the global pesti - The United Nations Special Finally, agro-biodiversity may be ognize or support communities' inher - an industrial-style, monoculture-based (CBD). Tanzania is signatory to both of cide market, are also seed industry gi - Rapporteur on the Right to Food, threatened by the uniformisation en - ent rights to biodiversity and their farming system and favors the com - these, but fails to recognise the contri - ants. Monsanto, the world's biggest Olivier De Schutter, warns: “the profes - couraged by the spread of commercial space to innovate”. mercial seed industry (including by fur - bution of farmers and their rights to a seed company is the world's fifth sionalisation of breeding and its sepa - varieties. Farmers, including women Northern companies will take over thering agricultural systems that re - share of the benefits in the new wave largest agrochemical company. ration from farming leads to the emer - farmers, need stronger rights, and a national breeding systems in the quire chemical inputs) over small farm - of signed legislation. Syngenta, the world's second largest gence of a commercial seed system, seat at the decision making table – South. National breeders and local seed ers, diversity and traditional knowl - The Plant Breeders Rights Bill agrochemical company is also the alongside the farmers’ seed systems agreed? companies will be bought out by the edge. 2012 has been passed into Tanzanian world's third largest seed company. through which farmers traditionally Why Tanzania in it? foreign companies. Northern compa - Many point to the increasing con - law. It will be used to strengthen the On the other hand, Bayer, the save, exchange and sell seeds, often in - So, why has Tanzania signed up to nies will get ownership of the South's centration in the seed industry that has rights of the commercial seed sector world's biggest agrochemical company, formally. an international treaty (UPOV 1991) biodiversity with no obligation to share occurred over the last two decades, say - while marginalising the farmer com - is also the world's seventh biggest seed This shift has led to grant tempo - that protects the interests of multina - the benefits. UPOV does not provide ing that this concentration, as well as munity, risking a major impact on the company. And DuPont, the world's sec - rary monopoly privileges to plant tional agribusiness corporations, while for any sharing of benefits from the intellectual property protection for livelihoods and food security of ond biggest seed company, is also the breeders and patent-holders through weakening farmers’ rights? North's exploitation of the South's bio - seeds, is inconsistent with human Tanzanian small farmers. world's sixth largest agrochemical com - the tools of intellectual property, as a Recently, Tanzania joined the diversity. Farmers of the South end up rights. The Bill grants rights to sell seeds pany. means to encourage research and inno - International Union for the Protection paying royalties for their own Critics add that yield improve - to those who develop new varieties. These companies are struggling to vation in plant breeding. In this of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV germplasm which has been tampered ments since UPOV came into force owe Crucially, it only allows farmers “to export their way out of a global reces - process, however, the poorest farmers 1991). It is now the second country in with and repackaged in the North. more to scientific developments than use the product of harvest (obtained by sion, and are fully backed by their gov - may become increasingly dependent on sub-Saharan Africa to do so, joining UPOV criteria for protection will intellectual property protection, and planting on his own holding) for propa - ernments, who need the export rev - expensive inputs, creating the risk of South Africa in this international club. exacerbate erosion of biodiversity. that this has occurred simultaneously gating purposes on his own holding”. enues to balance their national deficits. indebtedness in the face of unstable in - Many independent agencies have Uniformity leads to harvest loss and with a massive loss of biological diver - This effectively means that farmers Other beneficiaries are the world’s comes. voiced warnings about joining UPOV. further food insecurity. Joining the sity. can no longer save, exchange and sell investors in hedge funds who are bet - Private-led research may seek to Grain, an international non-profit UPOV means becoming party to a sys - UPOV detractors add that the sys - seeds from the protected varieties. ting on the rise of global food prices, the satisfy the needs of farmers in industri - organization that works to support tem that is increasingly supports in - tem does not recognize the incremental For example, in this new green increased demand for meat (hence ani - alized countries, while neglecting those small farmers and social movements in dustrial breeders over farmers and contribution of farmers over prior revolution model, an international mal feed) by the rapidly growing mid - of poor farmers in developing countries. their struggles for community-con - communities. decades to developing new crops, nor seed company sends scientists to dle classes in the world’s emerging The farmers’ seed systems may be put trolled and biodiversity-based food sys - UPOV is designed to facilitate mo - that crop development and improve - Tanzania to develop an improved seed economies, and the switch from fossil in jeopardy, although most farmers in tems, has this to say: nopolies in corporate plant breeding. ment has happened since farming be - variety. They take a local, hardy exist - fuels to biofuels. These billion dollar in - developing countries still rely on such “UPOV denies farmers' rights both Despite 35 years of Green Revolution ing seed variety and improve it by vestment funds are busy funding large- systems, which, for them, are a source in the narrow and the wide sense. In and UPOV, the South is still food inse - Continues page 14 cross breeding to achieve a hybrid va - riety, or by inserting a new gene to give it resistance to a certain herbicide. By Kilimo Kwanza Reporter Then they register the new variety under the new law and gain the sole Seeds saving outlawed right to sell that seed for the next 25- 30 years. If a farmer wants to use the HE Parliament has en - new seeds, she has to buy them from dorsed a law that forbids the seed company. If she plants them, farmers from saving qual - she is not allowed to keep the harvest - ity seeds and sharing New green revolution ed seed for anything other than her them with their family, own use. She cannot give or exchange friends and neighbours; it some with her neighbour to try out, has been learnt. The changes were and she cannot sell them to anyone. Tmade recently through the Intellectual Also the offspring of hybrid seeds lose Property Rights over seed and plant their parents’ advantages, so the seeds varieties. model in the offing become worthless. The changes include the new Plant Farmers forced to buy seeds Breeders Rights Bill 2012, signing up tion can be changed to speed up the in - cent of all seed is produced and distrib - Now the farmer is forced to buy to an International Treaty on Plant troduction of the new agricultural uted informally, from farmer to seeds year-on-year from the agro deal - Varieties (UPOV 1991), and the adop - model in African countries. They have farmer. Small farmers in East Africa er, who encourages them to add fer - tion of a binding legal framework identified the regional trading blocs save 60-70 per cent of seed used on- tiliser and pesticide to their shopping through membership of the African and international treaties as entry farm; acquire 30-40 per cent of their list. And no recognition is given to the Regional Intellectual Property points. seeds from relatives and neighbours, role of the farmers in developing the Organisation (Aripo). African countries are busy organis - with less than 10 per cent obtained existing variety. Gradually, the stock All three proposed changes will ing into groupings. EAC, SADC, and from the formal sector, for example, of informal seeds is run down and soon strengthen the hand of the multina - Comesa are fertile grounds for plant - The Plant Breeders from agro-dealers. the only seeds available are the expen - tional corporations who control the ing the seeds of regional policies and Rights Bill 2012… will The reality is that small farmers sive store-bought ones. world’s seed sales, and further disad - legislation that support the interests of are by far the largest and most prolific The alternative sustainable sce - vantage small farmers who rely on the multinational corporations. be used to strengthen group of seed breeders in Africa and nario is that farmers work with local saved seeds for their food security. Green revolution ‘by the rich, for they have successfully cultivated an extension staff and agricultural re - The government is strongly sup - the poor’ the rights of the abundant diversity of crops for cen - search institutes to test, select and porting private sector involvement in Agricultural investors are queuing commercial seed turies. This farmer-to-farmer seed sys - multiply the best seeds, register the agricultural modernisation on a large- up to introduce Tanzania to large-scale tem limits the cost of production by seeds with Tanzania Official Seed scale high-input industrial model as plantations of high input crops for ex - sector, while preserving independence from the Certification Institute (TOSCI), and the context of agriculture in the coun - port as biofuels and animal feed. The marginalising the commercial seed sector. then are able to exchange and sell the try is changing. The international model for this type of agriculture is Meanwhile, the exchange of seeds seeds to farmers in neighbouring vil - business community is increasingly America’s Mid-West, where huge farmer community, ensures the free flow of genetic re - lages, who know that these seeds are engaging and investing in Tanzanian farms of a single crop are run by a few sources as well as contributes to the high quality, and will be successful in agriculture. staff using gigantic machines, and risking a major impact development of locally appropriate the local conditions. This is bringing new ways of work - where 98 per cent of farmers buy their on the livelihoods and seeds and to crop diversity. We need to Prices are kept very low, and local ing and new pressures, as multination - seeds every year from the big seed support the development of such sys - farmers (male and female) retain con - al seed companies seek to secure intel - companies. They do not save their seed food security of tems which are important sources for trol of their seed and food sovereignty, lectual property rights to existing and for next year, as they used to in times Tanzanian small both modern and traditional varieties. while maintaining the rich agricultur - new plant varieties to generate profits gone by. Seed systems, women role al biodiversity which Tanzania is cele - through seeds, pesticides and fertiliser Instead, farmers are monitored by farmers… There is widespread recognition of brated for (Tanzania is the world’s sales. the so-called ‘seed police’, agents of the the importance of smallholder farmer 11th most bio-diverse country). Proponents of this ‘green revolu - big seed companies whose job is to in - “ managed seed systems and the key The intellectual property rights re - tion’ agenda have not stopped at agri - vestigate farmers and bring to justice role of women in maintaining them. main in the public domain. This ap - cultural practices, but have commis - anyone caught saving patented seed. On-farm seed conservation is recog - sioned expert studies on how legisla - Here in Africa, more than 80 per nised in global treaties such as the Continues page 13 Friday 14 December, 2012 Friday 14 December, 2012 The Guardian KILIMO KWANZA The Guardian KILIMO KWANZA 14 ANALYSIS FARMING 15 market commodity. In order to suc - ceed, the system has to abide by prin - ciples of transparency and let the mar - ket forces (demand and supply) deter - mine the cashew nuts price. Farmers not well represented The WRS is mandatory to all buy - ANSAF probes cashew ers and producers, although the farm - ers are not well represented in setting the prices. In a way, the system denies smallholder farmers the right to own what they produce and sell it when they want and to the buyers they want. nut crop failures AT the moment, they cannot de - cide to who to sell to and at what price. The cashew nuts stakeholders’ meet - ing noted that due to involvement of government machinery, administra - tive costs would surely increase, imply - ing a reduced share of farmer’s earn - ings. Although in some districts small - holders have had their own initiatives to sell cashew nuts in other countries, the WRS has slowed down this arrangement. For example, under the organic cashew nuts production and contract farming, smallholder produc - ers have contractual agreements with traders, and might not be able to fulfill them under the system. The WRS does not segregate the organic and non-organic cashew nuts; instead it combines the two types which undermines the quality and pre - mium level of the crop. This also means, through this arrangement, the involvement of Tanzanian farmers in fair trade is simply hampered, they said. Farmers are expected to have their produce (organically produced) collect - ed in general warehouse before they could sell to their customers. This has implications, in terms of time spent, and the process adds unnecessary ad - ministrative and transactional costs. Tanzania does not have many cashew nuts processing plants. About 60 per cent of cashew nuts are usually exported in raw form, which makes it difficult to store the produce for a rea - sonable period. Exporting raw produce reduces the competitiveness of farm - ers’ products compared to those ob - tained from Indian and Vietnam. Poor organisation and other chal - lenges, such as low literacy levels among farmers in Lindi and Mtwara By Special Correspondent, troduced the warehouse receipt system emerged over the past ten years. workshop that the current condition regions, are among factors working ANSAF for cashew nuts as an approach to In 2011, the government directed indicates that cooperatives owe farm - against farmers’ favors and benefits. solve market challenges facing farm - farmers to sell their cashew nuts ers 65bn/- in unsold cashew nuts in In many cases, farmers are disorgan - The probe ers. The system also intended to avoid through the warehouse receipt system warehouses whereby transaction costs ised and they do not have one voice. As selling the product to middlemen and regardless of contractual obligations of warehouse system is likely to reflect a result, they cannot make any tactical HE Agricultural Non individuals who evade tax. that some farmers’ groups had with ex - inefficiencies and rent-seeking, associ - moves to challenge government’s con - State Actors Forum Unfortunately, there has been a ternal buyers. This directive negative - ated with state institutions and paras - trol over their produce. (ANSAF), in collaboration monopoly in cashew nuts market. ly affected smallholder farmers. tatal organisations direct involvement The participants of the meeting with other stakeholders in There is only one defined system The 2011/12 cashew nuts produc - in the marketing of the crop. were bitter about the role of the the agricultural sector, through which farmers can sell their tion records show that out of the With some slight differences and Cashew nuts Board of Tanzania (CBT) New green revolution model in the offing has started discussing on - produce. This affects the market price 157,000 metric tonnes produced, variations in approaches by warehouse in regulating cash crop’s market and going failures in the cashew nuts cash and continuously undermines the 85,000mts (54 per cent) remained un - receipt system operators (WRS), there providing relevant market informa - From page 13 the region. It’s about protecting the pri - locally appropriate seed varieties. ing UPOV 1991 until Tanzanian agri - Tcrop production, including decrease in farmers’ bonus as well as their deci - sold in government warehouses by are concerns about the arrangement. tion. vate sector on the pretext that this is in The drafters of the new legislation culture has developed to a position harvests in Lindi and Mtwara regions. sions on where to sell cashew nuts and April 2012. The reason for this has It is now perceived that WRS has tech - The question raised is whether the gan, even in the absence of intellectual the interest of small-scale farmers. have ignored AU advice and seem to be where the nation can benefit from the ANSAF and the stakeholders, who in what form. been the government’s decision to set a nically caused market failures. crop is for the farmers’ interest or just property protection.” The legal framework, if adopted listening only to the industry advo - UPOV provisions; and start listening to met early this year during a workshop According to the United Nations high price index that other buyers Market mechanism and financial intended to earn political mileage. Dutfield cautions: “It appears that will bind Tanzania to UPOV 91 and cates. The AU Model Law limits intel - the voices of the world’s independent held in the country, expressed grave Conference on Trade and Development could not afford, based on world mar - strategy in the WRS hinder timely The issue of farm gate price is co - a number of developing countries join any national legislation developed will lectual property over indigenous scientists, the UN and the AU, who are concern over decreasing trends in pro - (UNCTAD), the warehouse receipt sys - ket prices. clearance of stocks. One would ask, ordinated by politicians while experts UPOV due to political and economic have to work within these parameters. UPOV is designed to knowledge and prohibits the patenting advocating against industrial agricul - duction of the crop in Lindi and tem is geared to enhance the efficiency While farmers are unaware of the who is frustrating the cashew nuts are not given space to challenge and pressures, with insufficient considera - Together, these three legislative of life forms and biological processes. It ture and in favour of ecological agricul - Mtwara, which have been leading, as of primary marketing system for raw mechanisms used by the government market and for whose benefit, is it the set tariffs. The compulsory use of tion of whether UPOV membership changes pave the way for a shift to the facilitate monopolies also protects farmers’ rights to save, ture, cashew nuts growing regions for sever - cashew nuts. to set prices, they remain ‘represented’ cashew nuts producers, the State, pri - WRS, according to experts, contradicts would contribute long-term to the coun - industrialisation of agriculture, while use, exchange and sell farm-saved It’s also important to wise up to the al decades. They also registered reser - In 2002, stakeholders met to eval - through cooperative unions whose vate companies or traders? the principles of liberalised market try’s policy objectives in a range of key enabling the big corporations to satisfy in corporate plant seed. fact that this legislation is driven by vations over poverty facing the majori - uate problems facing the cashew nuts membership is hardly 13 per cent of all The stakeholders said, while a cer - policies. areas, including economic develop - their shareholders, but take little ac - breeding… Suggestions global agribusiness corporations and ty in the regions, despite engaging in industry in order to determine possible cashew nuts producers in the regions. tain segment of producers acknowl - Need for dialogue ment, food security and biological di - count of the needs of the millions of So, here are a few proposals to help speculative investors who are pursuing cash crop farming. remedies. The meeting was a follow up Market saturation edge the usefulness of WRS, many oth - In a nutshell, the State, proces - versity.” small farmers who rely on farmer seed level the playing field including, tear the hottest investment opportunity the The stakeholders said that the to chaotic cashew nuts marketing dur - Nonetheless, the study indicates ers were concerned about the way the sors, farmers and the private sector Changes to ‘blind’ Tanzania systems for their livelihoods. up the draft Plant Breeders Rights Bill, world currently has to offer: African farmers relied entirely on the cash crop ing the preceding years. the farm gate price in September 2011 government is implementing it. The must engage in a dialogue. Equally, The Aripo’s Draft Legal Interestingly the African Union and replace it with one based on the agriculture and to involve Tanzanian due to its high market potential in the No tangible success was 1,200/- ($0.76) per kilo. Buyers are government’s interference in the sys - transparency and farmers representa - Framework is another attempt to foist has provided a Model Law on these is - African Union Model Law – which bal - farmer groups fully in the development world. Cashew nuts has the potential While the year 2012 is the 10th an - reportedly reluctant to purchase tem has been experienced with strong tion are essential factors that would UPOV 91 on 14 African countries, in - sues, which provides a safety net for ances the need to protect seed compa - of legislation to ensure it meets the real to be a highly profitable crop and niversary since the 2002 meeting was cashew nuts over claims that prices in market control, instead of promoting help in resolving cashew nuts market - cluding Tanzania. The legal framework small farmers, and recognises their key nies with the need to protect farmers’ needs of the farming community, the would likely contribute highly to the held, it appeared the cashew nuts sec - the world market have dropped due to competition. ing challenges. Additionally, farmers does not make any attempt to develop a role in the maintenance of biodiversity, rights. people who are actually feeding the na - country’s GDP. tor has not attained any tangible suc - market saturation. The above fact has been decimat - must have access to relevant and qual - regime that is suitable to the needs of and the breeding and development of “ Other proposals, are to delay join - tion. In 2007/2008, the government in - cess. Frequent market crisis have The stakeholders said during the ing the number of competitors in the ity information. Friday 14 December, 2012 The Guardian KILIMO KWANZA 16 COLUMN

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