From left to right (back row) Mr. Eliya Hangali (farmer from Manyara), Julius John (local capacity builder from Masasi), Paul Mtelya (TCCIA Kahama) and Andrea Shultz (SNV). From left to right (front row) Mr. Rashid Mamu (Processor from Dodoma), William Choaji (Nachingwea), Nsanya Ndanshau (SNV) Ms. Sauda Kasongo (Processor from Dodoma), Mr. Enock Ugulumu (PhD student at Tumaini University Iringa).
On 15th May 2009, SNV Tanzania organised its second edible oil seed multi-stakeholder meeting in Dar es Salaam. The objective of this meeting was to connect the capacities of local edible oil seed actors to form an association that they shall use in lobbying and advocating for the interest of all edible oil seed actors on policy and regulatory reforms for industry growth. About 40 participants representing all segments of the edible oil seed chain attended.
At the end of the meeting, a steering committee was formed and tasked to work on the formulation and formation of the formal body that shall lobby and advocate the interest of local edible oil seed actors in the country. The steering committee conducted its first two days meeting on 25th and 26th June 2009 in Dar es Salaam SNV country office. This meeting was facilitated by Nsanya Ndanshau and Andrea Shultz of SNV.
The steering committee comprises 10 members as drawn from different organisations that attended the multi-stakeholder meeting.
Immediate output of the meeting was a draft constitution of the Tanzania Edible Oil seed Association and the formulation of budget that shall support the activities of this steering committee till official registration of the association. The steering committee is scheduled to conduct other two meetings before the first annual general meeting for the Tanzania Edible Oil seed Association that is to be followed by official registration of the association.
One of the tasks ahead of Tanzania Edible Oil seed Association is engaging the government of Tanzania on policy issues as related to edible oil seed tariff structure. At present, the residents of Tanzania consume approximately 200,000 tons of edible oil per annum of which only 35% is locally produced. The country is not able to meet the local demand and therefore the government has determined, without discussion with the industry actors to introduce a zero percent duty for imported palm oil beginning July 2009. As edible oil seeds are drought tolerant and 85% of Tanzanians are farmers, the potential to close the gap between local and import market is strong. Small holder farmers and small processors are aware that their businesses may suffer as a result of the introduced tariff structure if they do not form a united front to lobby and advocate for their industry interest.
The outcome of the whole process is improved functionality of the national association to facilitate the development of the edible oil seed industry, improved public policy environment conducive to the development of edible oil seed industry nationwide with the impact on the increased productivity of farmer group, increased income of producers groups, increased employment opportunities of smallholder farmers engaged in production, processing and marketing activities of edible oil seed (sesame, AB nuts and sunflower).