Abstract
The performances in the food and cashcrop sectors and the availability and consumption ofagricultural inputs in Tanzania during structuraladjustment programs (1986–1996) are compared withperiods prior to this IMF/World Bank backed reform.The positive developments in the first five years ofreform appear to be not sustainable. Presentlyproductivity levels per rural capita for importantfood and cash crops are declining. There are nofurther improvements in the availability andconsumption of agricultural inputs. The removal ofsubsidies on agricultural inputs from 1991 onwards iscrucial in explaining the decline in maize production,the main food crop in Tanzania. Some assumptionsbehind the reform measures are proving to be wrong.Modifications are thus needed to improve theagricultural sector of Tanzania in a sustainable way.Structural adjustment programs usually go too far inreducing the role of the government. However,government involvement might be necessary to ensure ahigher consumption of agricultural inputs and thus abetter performance of the agricultural sector inTanzania. A higher productivity in the agriculturalsector is needed in Tanzania to avoid food securityproblems in the future.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amani, H. K. R., R. van den Brink, and W. E. Maro (1992). Tolerating the Private Sector: Grain Trade in Tanzania after Adjustment. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University, Cornell Food and Nutrition Policy Program Working Paper No. 32.
Anonymous (1992). Farming Systems: Characteristics and Trends. Morogoro, Tanzania; Oxford, UK: Department of Rural Economy, Sokoine Agricultural University and Food Studies Group, International Development Centre, University of Oxford, Agricultural Diversification and Intensification Study, Final report-Volume II.
Baker, J. (1996). “Rural-urban links and economic differentiation in Northwest Tanzania.” African Rural and Urban Studies 3(1): 25–48.
Barratt, B. M. (1995). Africa's Choices: After Thirty Years of the World Bank. London: Penguin Books.
Bevan, D., P. Collier, and J.W. Gunning (1993). Agriculture and the Policy Environment: Tanzania and Kenya. Paris, OECD: Series Development Centre Studies.
Bienefeld, M. (1995). “Structural adjustment and Tanzania's peasantry: Assessing the likely long-term impact,” in V. Jamal (ed.), Structural Adjustment and Rural Labour Markets in Africa (pp. 88–130). London: The Macmillan Series of ILO Studies, Macmillan Press.
Bryceson, D. F. (1987). “A century of food supply in Dar es Salaam; from sumptuous meals for the Sultan to maize meal for a million,” in J. I. Guyer (ed.), Feeding African Cities. Studies in Regional Social History (pp. 155–202). London: Manchester University Press for the International African Institute.
Cleaver, K. M. (1993). A Strategy to Develop Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa and a Focus for the World Bank. Washington, DC: World Bank Technical Paper No. 203.
Cromwell, E., M. Bagachwa, F. Shechambo, H. Sosovele, K. Kulindwa, and A. Naho (1996). “Case study for Tanzania,” in D. Reed (ed.), Structural Adjustment, the Environment, and Sustainable Development (pp. 107–127). London: Earthscan Publications.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, FAO (1997). The State of Food and Agriculture 1997. Rome, Italy: FAO Agriculture Series No. 30.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, FAO (1998). FAO Fertilizer Yearbook Vol. 47 (1997). Rome, Italy: FAO Statistics Series No. 143.
Geier, G. (1995). Food Security Policy in Africa between Disaster Relief and Structural Adjustment. Reflections on the Conception and Effectiveness of Policies: The Case of Tanzania. London: GDI Book Series No. 5.
Gibbon, P., K. J. Havnevik, and K. Hermele (1993). A Blighted Harvest. The World Bank and African Agriculture in the 1980s. London: James Currey.
Hyden, G. (1989). Agriculture and Development in Africa: The Case of Tanzania. Indianapolis, USA: Universities Field Staff International, UFSI Field Staff Report No. 5.
Jayne, T. S. and S. Jones (1997). “Food marketing and pricing policy in Eastern and Southern Africa: A survey.” World Development 25(9): 1505–1527.
Koning, N., N. Heerink, and S. Kauffman (1997). Integrated Soil Fertility Improvement and Agricultural Development in West Africa-Why Current Policy Approaches Fail. Wageningen, The Netherlands: ISRIC Report 97/11.
Kumar, V. (1995). Fertiliser Policy and Strategy. Rome, Italy: United Republic of Tanzania/FAO, Preliminary consultancy report for the Kilimo/FAO Plant Nutrition Programme in Tanzania.
Lele, U., N. van de Walle, and M. Gbetibouo (1989). Cotton in Africa: An Analysis of Differences in Performance. Washington, DC: World Bank, MADIA Discussion Paper No. 7.
Mans, D. (1994). “Tanzania: Resolute action,” in I. Husain and R. Faruqee (eds.), Adjustment in Africa: Lessons from Country Case Studies (pp. 352–426).Washington, DC: World Bank.
Mbonile, M. (1995). “Structural adjustment and rural development in Tanzania: The case of Makete District,” in D. Simon, W. Van Spengen, C. Dixon, and A. Närman (eds.), Structurally Adjusted Africa: Poverty, Debt and Basic Needs(pp. 136–158). London: Pluto Press.
McLoughlin, P. F. M. (1967). “Agricultural development in Sukumaland,” in J. C. de Wilde (ed.), Experiences with Agricultural Development in Tropical Africa. Vol. II: Case Studies (pp. 415–450). Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins Press.
Meertens, H. C. C., L. J. Ndege, and H. J. Enserink (1995). Dynamics in Farming Systems: Changes in Time and Space in Sukumaland, Tanzania. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Royal Tropical Institute.
Meertens, H. C. C. and P. M. Lupeja (1996). A Collection of Agricultural Background Information for Mwanza Region. Dar es Salaam/Rome, Tanzania/Italy: Field Document Kilimo/FAO Plant Nutrition Programme Tanzania.
Msambichaka, L. A. and A. Naho (1995). “Agricultural sector performance under SAP in Tanzania: Promising or frustrating situation?” in L. A. Msambichaka, A. A. L. Kilindo, and G. D. Mjema (eds.), Beyond Structural Adjustment Programmes in Tanzania: Successes, Failures and New Perspectives (pp. 29–68). Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: Economic Research Bureau, University of Dar es Salaam.
Putterman, L. (1995). “Economic reform and smallholder agriculture in Tanzania: A discussion of recent market liberalization, road rehabilitation, and technology dissemination efforts.” World Development 23(2): 311–326.
Raikes, P. (1997). “Structural adjustment and agriculture in Africa,” in M. Spoor (ed.), The ‘Market Panacea’: Agrarian Transformation in Developing Countries and Former Socialist Economies (pp. 57–76). London: Intermediate Technology Publications.
Raikes, P. and P. Gibbon (1996). “Tanzania 1986–1994,” in P. Engberg-Pedersen, P. Gibbon, P. Raikes, and L. Udsholt (eds.), Limits of Adjustment in Africa. The Effects of Economic Liberalization, 1986–1994 (pp. 215–307). London: James Currey & Portsmouth (N.H.), Heinemann.
Reardon, T., V. Kelly, E. Crawford, B. Diagana, J. Dioné, K. Savadogo, and D. Boughton (1997). “Promoting sustainable intensification and productivity growth in Sahel agriculture after macroeconomic policy reform.” Food Policy 22(4): 317–327.
White, H. (1996). “Adjustment in Africa: A review article.” Development and Change 27(4): 785–815.
World Bank (1993). Tanzania-A Poverty Profile. Washington, DC: Report No. 12298-TA, Green Cover draft, Eastern Africa Department.
World Bank (1994a). Tanzania Agriculture: A Joint Study by the Government of Tanzania and the World Bank. Washington, DC: A World Bank Country Study.
World Bank (1994b). Adjustment in Africa: Reforms, Results and the Road Ahead. New York: A World Bank Policy Research Report, Oxford University Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Meertens, B. Agricultural performance in Tanzania under structural adjustment programs: Is it really so positive?. Agriculture and Human Values 17, 333–346 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026528003665
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026528003665