DAR ES SALAAM, July 26 (Xinhua) -- The World Food Programme (WFP) on Thursday pledged to support Tanzania's smallholder farmers to move away from subsistence farming and improve their food security.
David Beasley, the WFP Director General, said the UN organization will support the smallholder farmers by addressing the causes of post-harvest losses in key commodity crops, access to extension services, quality inputs and access to markets.
"WFP support will focus on promoting crop diversification and investing in technologies to ease women's workload," said Beasley when he held talks with Tanzanian President John Magufuli at State House in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam.
In 2015/2016, the WFP commissioned a comprehensive Zero Hunger Strategy Review on food security and nutrition in the east African nation based on the targets Sustainable Development Goal number two--zero hunger.
Beasley said the WFP has co-designed a multi-stakeholder initiative to increase the incomes of 250,000 smallholder farmers in prioritized regions.
Under the support, the WFP will specifically target women farmers both in farming and in small-scale processing, said the WFP chief.
"All these are possible under the impressive leadership of President John Magufuli," Beasley was quoted in a statement by the Directorate of Presidential Communication at State House.
Beasley added: "Tanzania could produce surplus food for the entire African region."
President Magufuli praised the WFP for supporting smallholder farmers to improve their welfare.
"I thank WFP for efforts it was taking to support my government's resolve to improve the livelihoods of Tanzanians," said Magufuli.
