Tanzania: Canada Injects 38 Billion to Support ‘Smart Agriculture’ in Tanzania

Tanzania: Canada Injects 38 Billion to Support ‘Smart Agriculture’ in Tanzania

Canada, through Global Affairs Canada, has injected a total of 20 million Canadian Dollars (approximately 38bn/-) to empower women and youth in the agriculture sector to combat the consequences of climate change in three regions.

This was revealed in Mkuranga District in the Coast Region on Wednesday when Canadian Minister of International Development, Ahmed Hussen, launched the ambitious groundbreaking ‘Her Resilience, Our Planet’ project aimed at empowering the mentioned groups in adaptation, mitigation, and transition to renewable energy.

The six-year project will be coordinated in the country by Care Tanzania in collaboration with five other partners: WWF, SAGCOT, TGNP Mtandao, Shahidi wa Maji, and the Conservation Farming Unit.

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Addressing the launching ceremony, the Canadian Minister said the unveiled project will reach over 175,000 smallholder farmers, particularly women, to deal with the effects of climate change in the agricultural sector.

He noted that women and youth are among the groups most affected by climate change; hence Canada has released the funds to enable them to “adapt, mitigate, and transition to renewable energy.”

On his part, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mr. David Silinde, thanked the government of Canada for the grant, saying that the project to support Tanzanian smallholder farmers reflects the existing strong partnership between the two countries.

He added that the project comes at a crucial time when Tanzania is executing various agricultural programs geared towards feeding Africa and the world.

According to the Deputy Minister, Tanzania is currently implementing Building Better Tomorrow (BBT), which involves graduates, an initiative that, in most aspects, aligns with the ambitious groundbreaking project, Her Resilience, Our Planet. The project is expected to uplift women and youth economically as well as contribute to saving the planet.

On his part, the Coast Regional Commissioner, Abubakar Kunenge, said Tanzania is capitalizing on the value chain in the sector; hence the project has come at an appropriate time.

The project will be implemented in the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) clusters, which involve Iringa, Kilolo, Wanging’ombe, Mufindi, and Mbarali districts. These areas are linked to the Ruaha Basin.

Care Tanzania has adopted a comprehensive approach to climate justice that integrates environmental sustainability, gender equality, and social inclusion.

It works towards building resilience, reducing vulnerabilities, and promoting adaptive capacities of communities while ensuring the protection of human rights and addressing systemic inequalities.

As the global climate emergency intensifies, it is estimated that an additional 132 million people will be pushed into poverty by 2030 due to climate change.

Source: allafrica.com

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Tanzania Confirms Outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease
Tanzania Foreign Investment News
Chief Editor

Tanzania Confirms Outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease

Dodoma — Tanzania today confirmed an outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the northwestern Kagera region after one case tested positive for the virus following investigations and laboratory analysis of suspected cases of the disease.

President of the Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, made the announcement during a press briefing alongside World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in the country’s administrative capital Dodoma.

“Laboratory tests conducted in Kabaile Mobile Laboratory in Kagera and later confirmed in Dar es Salaam identified one patient as being infected with the Marburg virus. Fortunately, the remaining suspected patients tested negative,” the president said. “We have demonstrated in the past our ability to contain a similar outbreak and are determined to do the same this time around.”

A total of 25 suspected cases have been reported as of 20 January 2025, all of whom have tested negative and are currently under close follow-up, the president said. The cases have been reported in Biharamulo and Muleba districts in Kagera.

“We have resolved to reassure the general public in Tanzania and the international community as a whole of our collective determination to address the global health challenges, including the Marburg virus disease,” said H.E President Hassan.

WHO is supporting Tanzanian health authorities to enhance key outbreak control measures including disease surveillance, testing, treatment, infection prevention and control, case management, as well as increasing public awareness among communities to prevent further spread of the virus.

“WHO, working with its partners, is committed to supporting the government of Tanzania to bring the outbreak under control as soon as possible, and to build a healthier, safer, fairer future for all the people of Tanzania,” said Dr Tedros. “Now is a time for collaboration, and commitment, to protecting the health of all people in Tanzania, and the region, from the risks posed by this disease.”

Marburg virus disease is highly virulent and causes haemorrhagic fever. It belongs to the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly. Patients present with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. They may develop severe haemorrhagic symptoms within seven days.

“The declaration by the president and the measures being taken by the government are crucial in addressing the threat of this disease at the local and national levels as well as preventing potential cross-border spread,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Our priority is to support the government to rapidly scale up measures to effectively respond to this outbreak and safeguard the health of the population,”

Tanzania previously reported an outbreak of Marburg in March 2023 – the country’s first – in Kagera region, in which a total of nine cases (eight confirmed and one probable) and six deaths were reported, with a case fatality ratio of 67%.

In the African region, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda.

Marburg virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials. Although several promising candidate medical countermeasures are currently undergoing clinical trials, there is no licensed treatment or vaccine for effective management or prevention of Marburg virus disease. However, early access to treatment and supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms, improve survival.

Source: allafrica.com

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