The country office in Tanzania hosted the annual Tanzania Grain Sector Post-Budget Synopsis Forum on the National Budget for the 2022/2023 Financial Year on 20th June, 2022. The forum was hosted virtually in partnership with PwC Tanzania who provided an in-depth analysis of the Tanzania National Budget for the 2022/2023 financial year as presented before Parliament by the Minister of Finance, Hon. Mwigulu Nchemba on 15th June 2022. The 2022/2023 Financial Year is themed “Accelerating Economic Recovery and Enhancing Productive Sectors for Improved Livelihoods”.

Various stakeholders in the country attended the forum among them representatives of grain farmers, grain traders and processors, research organizations and development partners.

In the financial year 2022/2023, the agricultural sector budget has seen a notable increase from TZS 294 billion to 751 billion, representing about 155% increase. The key priorities in the governments’ agricultural sector are export promotion, commodity markets, research, agricultural inputs, irrigation and extension services.

One of the key highlights in the agricultural sector is the zero-rating (0%) VAT for locally manufactured fertilizer for 1 year to help reduce the current high fertilizer prices which is likely to reduce the costs of fertilizer. Grain farmers are one of the major beneficiaries of the move which will see an improvement in crop quality due to reduced costs. Grain productivity will also gain from increased resources for extension services which is a key priority area for the government. This will see increase in free soil testing, establishment of demo plots, equipment and training of extension officers for improved services as well as enhanced access to these services.

For more provisions of the national budget and potential implications on the agricultural sector and the grain sector in particular read more on the Communique on the Tanzania Grain Sector Post-Budget Synopsis Forum.