80 farmers, mostly women, met in Muheza, situated in the North-East of Tanzania, from April 27-28, invited by the Farmers dialogue local team. The District Commissioner opened the meeting, with the Director of the Agricultural District Services and the Chairman of the Council of Muheza.. They showed a real interest and attention to the farmers, their problems and the challenges they face in terms of agricultural development. Some farmers had brought with them some samples of their work as a way to show their efforts of diversification and food-processing, mostly done in the framework of farmers’ groups.

These 2 aspects – the support of the authorities and the dynamism of the farmers – are very encouraging if one thinks of the challenge to feed people. Claude Bourdin, French coordinator of the International Farmers Dialogue underlined it, mentioning that Tanzania would see its population grow from 40 million inhabitants to over 100 million in 40 years time. Who else than the farmers will produce the food needed?

The other big challenge which he mentioned was the ability of each farmer to take the decisions and the commitment at the level of the needs. “What will be different, after this meeting, for each one, in one’s life, one’s relationships, one’s way of working on the farm ... to contribute to the effort of food production in Tanzania?” One farmer had already decided to start a small activity of fish-farming, and another to plant trees.

The farmers were invited the following day to come for farm visits: to look at concrete examples of individual and group initiatives in order to improve production, increase the income, find new markets and stimulate decisions.

For Claude Bourdin, these 2 days show how individual commitments, well supported by the right policies, can transform the lives of the farmers and their families, and at the same time contribute to a global rural development and better food autonomy.