Barriers to trade for smallholder famers in Tanzania, A review and analysis of agricultual related market policies

Abstract

This report funded by Ford foundation to analyse barriers to trade for smallholder farmers in and a review of agricultural related market policies in Tanzania. The study mainly focused on identifying tariff and non-tariff policy issues impeding smallholder farmers to access market for their commodities and recommending advocacy strategies on key observation. Interview and discussions are held with key informants along the value chains of respective crops. This was complemented by Secondary data gathered from different sources like Kibaigwa market in Kongwa district, National Business council (NBC) and Ministry of Agriculture food security and cooperative (MAFSC).Small scale farmers will produce more, will produce of expected quality and will produce in a desired time, if reliable and fair market will exist. However, the opposite is the norm of the day. Small scale farmers are marginalised and squeezed in a corner and denied to enjoy the freedom of selling their produce to lucrative markets not only within their countries but also denied to access lucrative market even in neighbouring districts within the same country. The bottom line is to give freedom and information to small scale farmers to determine what to sell, where to sell and how to sell in the market within their districts, within their national boundaries and within the East African common market and wherever possible within the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).