Tertula M. Swai

Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF)

Dar Es Salaam, 6th September 2012.

Introduction From independence in 1961 to 1967 From 1967 to mid 1980s From mid 1980s todate conclusion

The private sector is engaged in the whole agricultural commodity value chain

Involved in lobbying for agriculture friendly environment◦ Taxation, incentives, subsidies◦ Better legal and regulatory framework

Various PSOs involved lobbying and advocacy◦ ACT, TCCIA, TAHA

◦ Private sector involved directly in large scale farming of food and commercial crops in plantations…

◦ Plantations mainly owned by foreign private companies until 1967 when private properties were nationalised under Arusha declaration and Ujamaa policy (socialism).

◦ Due to socialism policy, virtually no private sector engagement in agriculture

◦ Nationalized plantations run by public sector as parastatal organizations.

◦ Public sector directly engaged in agriculture enterprises.

Growing trend towards public sector retrenchment & greater reliance on market forces for most productive activities

Private sector engagement resumed following a number of policy reforms in the management of the economy.

Reforms changed substantially the pattern of ownership of major means of production in virtually all sectors including agriculture

Both foreign and local private sector directly engaged in the whole agricultural commodity chain

Also involved in influencing and shaping policies through lobbying and advocacy.

Recent notable engagement of private sector in Tz includes formulation of Kilimo Kwanza Initiative and the Southern agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT)

Govt. recognizes private sector as the engine of growth.

Private sector has increasingly become the main source of investment and finance, job creation, linking farmers to markets, providing technologies, services, innovations and knowledge

Public sector role is to provide appropriate policy environment & infrastructure needed for businesses to thrive and economy to grow

Private Sector engagement in agriculture has taken various shapes over time.

Especially so for large scale private sector actors such as plantation owners and agro-processors

Policies have influenced the extent and way private sector is engaged in agriculture in Tz

Recently, the private sector has more space to influence policies in favour of the private sector.