GOOD FOOD AFRIQUE TARGETS TO PROMOTE AGRO-PROCESSING FOR

INDUSTRIALIZATION

Dar es Salaam. As we mark this year’s World Food day with the slogan ‘Zero hunger’
UN sustainable development (SDGS) goal number #2, Good Food Afrique is
specializing in promoting nutritious food from the farm to the table and post harvest
management by supporting smallholder farmers and entrepreneurs who are involved in
agro-industry especially food processing in push for industrialization.

World hunger is on the rise again. Today, over 820 million people are suffering chronic
undernourishment, according to the latest FAO 2018 State of Food Security and
Nutrition in the World report. Conflict, extreme weather events linked to climate change,
economic slowdown and rapidly increasing overweight and obesity levels are reversing
progress made in the fight against hunger and malnutrition. Now is the time to get back
on track. The world can achieve Zero Hunger if we join forces across nations,
continents, sectors and professions, and act on evidence. A #ZeroHunger world by 2030
is possible.“

The new organization wants to achieve this through promoting post harvest
management, creating markets to small holder farmers and food processors.

“My idea is in sync with Tanzania’s current socio-economic growth policy through
industrialization,” said the organization’s CEO, Ms Juliana Mataba.

We will soon launch the good food product centers where the food processors will enjoy
working from on the hygienic, suitable processing premises, processing facilities and
equipment, training, mentorship and build good value supply chain in the industry, she
says.
Ms Mataba who is the promoter of the good food concept was selected among the 12
young entrepreneurial women from East African countries to attend a fellowship
programme which she now wants to share the experiences.

The programme named “Advance young women in agribusiness, entrepreneurship and

innovators fellowship programme” was held at the Michigan State University (MSU) in
the US under the sponsorship of the US State Department of Education and Culture.
During the five-week programme, she was attached to the university’s product centre
where she was trained on assisting food processors with processing ideas and the
mechanism of building such ideas into business and ultimately business set-ups.

The exposure she acquired from this programme has motivated her to launch her
mission of reaching out and fostering small-scale agroindustry entrepreneurs, according
to her.

“The good food concept seeks to incubate food processing projects and simultaneously
promote value chains for agroindustry in furtherance of value addition to agricultural
products. Good food processing will help to reduce post-harvest losses as well as
linking the local agriculture to the international markets,” she said.

Agriculture is Tanzania’s economic mainstay accounting for about 30 per cent of the
gross domestic product (GDP).

The sector also provides employment to over 65 per cent of Tanzanians and in
favorable seasons, it covers more than 100 per cent of the domestic food needs.

However, there is little value addition and small and medium agro processors have not
been able to produce, brand and market Tanzanian products well and hygienically
resulting into failure to penetrate both local and international markets.

“Food processing is an opportunity to increase entrepreneurship, create jobs, potential

for improving export earnings, widening tax base as well as developing the sector in
general,” said Ms Mataba.

Good Food Afrique intends to bring together all food stakeholders including vendors,
food processors, supermarkets, fresh produce, farmers, food agents, distributors and all
stakeholders in the value chain who are dealing with food and agriculture in Tanzania.

“Our aim is to see the food industry moving forward in a thriving manner,” she adds.
ENDS

Media Contact

Juliana Mataba

Email: juliana.mataba@gmail.com