Abstract:
Nutrition sensitive pathways and approaches involving agriculture are being recognised as essential
to guarantee nutrition security and lessen undernutrition. In Tanzania, the majority of
the population lives in the rural areas and 80% depend on agriculture as the main source of
livelihood. Although agriculture can play a big role in alleviating undernutrition, its role in
tackling malnutrition needs to be dealt with based on policies to the actual implementation.
This study aimed to investigate perspectives of stakeholders on links between rural agriculture
and nutrition, opportunities and challenges, evidences and policy inferences.
Methodology: Open ended interviews were conducted with 11 stakeholders identified for the
Scale-N project in Tanzania who contribute in one way or another to the nutrition sector. Two
focus group discussions with 20 farmers from Mzula and Tindiga villages in Dodoma and
Kilosa were conducted.
Stakeholders acknowledged obstacles to better achievement of undernutrition reduction which
included absence of clear cut motivations in the agriculture sector regarding enhancing nutrition,
concentrating on cash crops, lack of accountability for agriculture matters for improving
nutrition, policies exist but putting them into action is hindered, limited competence in the available
human resources, absence of coordination between sectors, lack of proof that agriculture
works for nutrition and economic constraints to support agriculture. Possible measures mentioned
to be taken to improve rural agriculture for better nutrition including home gardening
with different crops, nutrition training, better access to markets and labour saving technologies
to women. From the farmers’ side, 13 mentioned lack of extension services, 17 mentioned
lack of access to agricultural productive resources, lack of knowledge about nutritious and safe
food and the majority mentioned increased occurrences of natural disasters such as floods and
serious drought.
Numerous possibilities are present to strengthen the role of agriculture on nutrition in Tanzania,
however, there is need to strengthen the structure and making of policies which will in turn need
proper implementation for the desired success.
