cases from tanzania - Sustainet

4 Agricultural policy in Kenya and Tanzania
International trade in Kenya
The problem Farmers must pay a lot for inputs but get low prices for their products. That
leaves little money for consumption or investment. Individual farmers find it hard to meet
quality standards required for exports, and their produce must often compete with imports.
They have no capital or skills to invest in marketing, storage or processing, so cannot add
value to their output. Farmer unions and marketing co-operatives are weak, leaving producers
to rely on their own limited resources.
Current policies “Trade liberalisation brings opportunities and challenges. However,
experience has shown that opening up of trade contributes immensely to higher economic
growth while trade barriers retard development… In order to exploit opportunities presented
by globalization, the government will implement the following measures:
(i) Continue to encourage cross-border trade in agricultural commodities
(ii) Improve the provision and efficiency of quality control services
(iii) Undertake capacity building for farmers and fisherfolk on sanitary, phytosanitary and
zoosanitary measures and international standards
(iv) Set up effective systems for gathering and utilizing information on external market opportunities
(v) Establish Disease Free Zones to facilitate access to export markets for livestock
(vi) Recommend improvement in port and airport services to eliminate delays and costs”
(KSRA, short version, p. 13).
Sustainable agriculture solutions Sustainable agriculture – especially organic agriculture
– has the potential to address niche markets. In the case of organic agriculture this requires
costly certification, which local farmers cannot afford on their own. Nevertheless the examples
in this book show that there are opportunities for farmers to produce certified organic
products for export.
Policy changes needed It is important to develop national standards for the certification
of organic products. Kenyan certification bodies should be established to reduce the cost
of certification for farmer groups who wish to export their produce.
International trade in Tanzania
Case: CHEMA (p. 77)
The problem Markets in developed countries are protected and favour their own products
(e.g., through subsidies). Agricultural products from developing countries are disadvantaged.
The Tanzanian government favours conventional farming by giving subsidies for fertilizers
throughout the country.
Current policies “The Ministry [responsible for industry and trade] will promote agroprocessing
through implementation of the Sustainable Industrial Development Policy (SIDP)
and Small and Medium Enterprise Policy (SMEP). It will also establish a conducive legal and
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