DFID funded climate smart agriculture program launched

The programme dubbed Vuna Programme Team Leader, John Cantrill said the initiative represents an exciting and innovative opportunity to work more on the potential for agriculture to thrive as a business.

“Based on all parties working together to address the challenges created by the changing climate, in partnerships which raise income levels and improve the overall health of the agriculture sector,” Catrill said.

He pointed out that working in partnership with the government, Vuna expects to achieve shared objectives which include changing subsistence agriculture to a business venture among local farmers.

The programme which will be implemented by a consortium of partners led by Adam Smith International, targets to: increase research evidence about climate smart agriculture; create and strengthen sustainable incentive structures in agricultural value chains and to change how smallholder farmers and private companies respond to climate risks.

At a ceremony attended by government officials, private sector and diplomats who form a climate smart agriculture coalition the Vuna Programme Team Leader said the initiative will increase efforts to help smallholder farmers, by finding and supporting use of practice and technologies which reduces climate risks.

“Our efforts cannot be on just national levels, we need regional efforts to address the recurring droughts which threaten our agriculture sectors, as well as the other climate change impacts such as increasing temperature,” Tanzania National Business Council (TNBC) Executive Director, Raymond Mbilinyi said.

Mbilinyi noted that the government welcomes this new support to the region and is already working with Vuna, so that we can help our farmers face these challenges.

Vuna is an initiative for East and Southern Africa. Established in 2015, Vuna’s long term aim is to increase the climate resilience of smallholder farmers.

Vuna implements targeted projects across the region, initially in Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, to achieve shared objectives with governments, partner organisations, and private companies.