THE government is conducting feasibility studies focused on legal procedures, operations and the cost of establishing a national agriculture insurance scheme.

Deputy Minister for Finance Hamad Chande said this while addressing participants from Arusha Food Systems Youth Leaders Institute who gathered to discuss food systems as part of the World Food Day celebrations recently.

“The government through Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority (TIRA), the Ministry of Agriculture and various stakeholders, is coordinating efforts to establish the National Agricultural Insurance Scheme via a consortium of agriculture insurance companies,” he said.

He added that the scheme will be managed under the agriculture insurance framework which was officially launched on July 1, 2023.

The meeting brought together youth engaged in food systems from across the country who convened for three days in Arusha to discuss food production, sales, safety and nutrition.

Saddam Halfan, a youth officer from the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), noted that among other topics, the youth examined how pupils eat—or do not eat—in schools. He explained that the gathering focused on food systems, food business and productive food production as part of a capacity-building initiative under the Nourishing Food Pathway (NFP) project.

“We also discussed observations on food systems and what should be done to make them inclusive and sustainable for young people,” he said.

GAIN aims to reach one million people while specifically targeting around 100,000 young individuals through social media, workshops and training.

Mwanahamisi Akyoo from Arusha Food Systems Youth Leaders Institute urged the government to expedite the establishment of a national agriculture insurance scheme to create sustainable production systems, particularly in agriculture, livestock and fishery.

She emphasised that absence of such a scheme hinders many smallholder farmers, especially youth from effectively participating in the national strategy to eliminate malnutrition.

The NFP project is implemented by GAIN and is funded by the European Union, the Dutch government, the UK government, and various private sector stakeholders.