Tanzania Launches $63.2M Food Safety Drive with AfDB Support
The African Development Bank (AfDB), the Government of Tanzania, and the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP) have launched the $63.2 million Tanzania Initiative for Preventing Aflatoxin Contamination (TANIPAC), a landmark project aimed at improving food safety, protecting public health, and enhancing agricultural exports.
The initiative was officially inaugurated in Dodoma by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, alongside representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, development partners, farmer cooperatives, and international organisations. Demonstrations of modern post-harvest handling and aflatoxin mitigation techniques were showcased during the event.
Funded through a collaborative partnership, TANIPAC includes contributions of $9.2 million from AfDB, $20 million from GAFSP, and $34 million from the Tanzanian government. The programme targets staple crops such as maize, rice, and groundnuts, introducing metal silos, solar dryers, moisture meters, and training for over 60,000 farmers nationwide.
President Hassan emphasised the project’s dual role in securing both health and economic gains. “We cannot talk about food security without food safety. TANIPAC is not just a health intervention, it is an economic imperative. With this initiative, we are empowering farmers to meet domestic and international standards,” she said.
Since 2019, TANIPAC has been implemented across 20 councils, including two in Zanzibar, with progress seen in laboratory infrastructure, farmer training, and institutional strengthening. The project is aligned with Tanzania’s Development Vision 2025 and its Five-Year Development Plan, reinforcing ambitions to lead in food security and agricultural trade in East Africa.
Philip Boahen, AfDB’s Lead Partnership Coordinator for GAFSP, described TANIPAC as a “landmark initiative” that will open new market opportunities. “By equipping farmers with modern storage technologies and practical training, we are not just preventing aflatoxin contamination, we are transforming livelihoods and opening doors to higher-value markets,” he said.
Clepin Josephat, Project Coordinator at the Ministry of Agriculture, noted the significance of the launch: “This project ensures that what is harvested in our fields can confidently reach both local tables and international markets.”
TANIPAC is expected to significantly reduce aflatoxin contamination in Tanzania’s agricultural value chains, paving the way for healthier communities and stronger export competitiveness.
