Tanzanians love beans. Common Beans are the third most important staple crop in Tanzania after maize and cassava. They are considered important for food and nutrition security and are becoming increasingly important as an extra sources of revenue for farmer families. Other significant pulses grown include dry beans, cowpeas, chickpeas, mung beans and pigeon peas. Pulses production has grown steadily in recent years, reaching 1.6 million tonnes in 2014. Currently, they represent 12% of crop production in Tanzania.
Producers range from subsistence farmers to medium-sized commercial farmers with approximately 95% of farms being less than 5 ha.
Markets for Tanzania pulses are found in the entire East, Southern and Central African, Europe and India. Tanzania is a strategic supplier to India with about 20% of the country’s imports of pulses. Contrary to popular belief, higher prices can often be found in India and Pakistan compared to Europe. However, market demand for pulses in Europe is on the rise, where demand for pulses is growing as an alternative to meat-based products. This is mainly explained by the growing awareness of consumers on dietary related diseases, boosting demand for more plant-based proteins, meat alternative products and a more diversified diet in general.
Rikolto worked with AidEnvironment to support the Tanzania Pulses Network (TPN) to conduct a Sector Diagnostic in 2017. This study highlighted the challenges within the sector; the specific ones relevant to this initiative are:
The strategy is a private sector led approach. Rikolto will support the Tanzania Pulse Network’s members to pilot inclusive business initiatives. TPN is a network that is composed primarily of traders and exporters engaged in the pulses sector. The target markets will be dynamic and be based on regular assessments of the best return for the risk taken by exporters, traders and farmers. European market is therefore only one of the markets to be targeted.
TPN will engage with Manyara Region stakeholders, which include the Regional Government, Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA) and MVIWATA (farmers membership organisation). The aim of this will be to agree a Public Private Partnership for Manyara to support pulses trade. TPN will also work with importers, including specific work with Casibeans, to take advantage of trade opportunities into Europe, Russia, India, Pakistan and other markets. Rikolto in Belgium will work with Casibeans and other European importers to identify and take advantage of these opportunities.
The Expected Outputs are:
Output 1: Inclusive business chain development in Manyara Region
Output 2: Improved Business Environment for Pulses Trade through working with TCCIA, MVIWATA and the Regional Government.
June 2020-2021
Key achievements to date include: