ZANZIBAR – The United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has made strides in expanding its Hand-in-Hand (HIH) Initiative to Zanzibar, with a particular focus on enhancing the fisheries and livestock sub-sectors.
Hon. Shamata Shaame Khamis, the Minister of Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources, and Livestock Zanzibar, expressed appreciation for FAO’s efforts in offering unique investment opportunities in the dairy and seaweed value chains.
Under the leadership of His Excellency the President of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, the government is steadfast in its commitment to fostering collaboration with development agencies and private entities to amplify investments in the agricultural sector.
Given that agriculture sustains 70 percent of Zanzibar’s population and development, investing in this sector remains paramount – from 2013 to 2022, agriculture contributed between 21 percent to 26 percent of the national income, with crop production accounting for 8.8 percent to 11.1 percent.
Acknowledging the vital role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in accelerating development, the Ministry underscored the importance of engaging stakeholders from various sectors to promote agriculture effectively.
The Hand-in-Hand Initiative, introduced in 2019, serves as a collaborative endeavor aimed at eradicating poverty, ending hunger, and reducing inequalities along agricultural value chains.
Assistant FAO Representative and Head of Programme, Charles Tulahi, emphasized FAO’s unwavering commitment to accelerating agrifood systems transformations through market-based approaches and data-driven interventions
In response to the request from the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, FAO has expanded the Hand-in-Hand Initiative to address specific challenges within the fisheries and livestock sectors.
Seaweed farming and dairy production have been identified as priority value chains due to their potential to uplift communities, enhance livelihoods, bolster food security, and foster economic growth.
As part of this approach, FAO will collaborate closely with stakeholders to identify key investment cases and facilitate matchmaking opportunities for potential investors.
This initiative aligns with Zanzibar’s priorities and complements ongoing efforts to achieve sustainable development and prosperity.
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