Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08DARESSALAAM275
2008-04-29 13:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Cable title:  

RESPONSE: IMPACT OF RISING FOOD/COMMODITY PRICES-TANZANIA

Tags:  ECON EAGR TZ 
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RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHDR #0275/01 1201357
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 291357Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7505
INFO RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 0945
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 3151
RUEHLGB/AMEMBASSY KIGALI 1096
RUEHJB/AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA 2660
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DAR ES SALAAM 000275 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT AF/E FOR JLIDDLE, EEB/TPP/ABT/ATP FOR JANET SPECK

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAGR TZ
SUBJECT: RESPONSE: IMPACT OF RISING FOOD/COMMODITY PRICES-TANZANIA

REF: STATE 39410

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SUMMARY
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DAR ES SALAAM 000275

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT AF/E FOR JLIDDLE, EEB/TPP/ABT/ATP FOR JANET SPECK

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAGR TZ
SUBJECT: RESPONSE: IMPACT OF RISING FOOD/COMMODITY PRICES-TANZANIA

REF: STATE 39410

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SUMMARY
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1. Tanzania's annual inflation rose from 8.6 percent in January to
8.9 percent in February 2008, due mainly to higher food prices,
according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). NBS and the
Bank of Tanzania (BoT) attribute the increasing inflation to higher
average prices of cereals and cereal products, sweet potatoes,
vegetables, fruits, meat and poultry, legumes, and meals in
restaurants. The BoT says the inflationary pressure on food prices
in mainly due to a reduced supply of food items and increased
transportation costs. Rising food prices present a challenge for
the Government of Tanzania (GOT) because in the majority of
Tanzanian households, food makes up a disproportionately large part
of household spending. The average annual per capita income in
Tanzania is $320. End Summary.


2. Maize is the staple and rice is second most essential food
consumed in Tanzania, particularly among urban consumers. Other
essential commodities are cassava, sorghum/millet, beans and beef.
Maize wholesale prices in Dar es Salaam increased by 16% from
November 2007 to February 2008, to $330 per metric ton (MT). This
is a 38% increase over the February 2006 price. Similarly, beans
($755/MT) and rice ($643/MT) prices increased by $13 since November

2007.

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DEMAND
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3. On average during the last 5 years Tanzania was 105%
self-sufficient on maize. However, despite the statistics, 25-30%
of districts reported food shortages due to disparities in the
climate and the infrastructure, such as road and railway, in
different districts. In 2006, Tanzania became a net importer for
rice, importing one third (200,000MT) of its demand.


4. Although Tanzanian consumers have not shifted towards
alternative commodities, imports of rice, wheat and dairy have
increased since 2007 due mainly to a surge in demand for high value
processed products by the emerging middle class coupled with the
rapidly growing tourist sector. In 2007, Tanzania received about
700,000 tourists, a significant increase. The growing expatriate
communities (donors in international NGOs) and foreign investors
have created a market for supermarket food products. In 2007,

Tanzania spent about $200 mil on imported food products, mainly
rice, wheat and dairy.


5. According to the National Household Budget Survey, food accounts
for 65% of household expenditures and is highest for rural
households. Average consumption per capita is around 2.6 times
higher in Dar es Salaam than in rural areas. Poverty is pervasive
in rural areas where 39% of people are below the national income
(basic needs) poverty line (26% for urban areas). The World Bank
GDP for Tanzania in 2006 was $12.8 billion (approximately $324 per
capita). About 20% of rural households are below the national food
poverty line, as opposed to 13% for urban areas. Increases in food
prices are more likely to impact rural areas, particularly in
semi-arid areas of the central zone (Dodoma, Singida and Shinyanga)
and the south coast of Lindi and Mtwara where incomes are lowest.
As food prices rise and account for a larger percentage of household
expenditures, Tanzanian households will be forced to reduce their
expenditures in other sectors such as health and education.

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SUPPLY
--------------

6. Domestic agricultural production is responding to changes in
prices. Planted areas have expanded, although productivity has not
improved. While investment in maize and rice production has not
increased, there are new approved investments in large scale wheat
farms. Some foreign direct investment went to post-harvest
operations (e.g. processing) of cereals, significantly to export
cash crops, and to some extent livestock in ranches, feedlots, and
abattoirs.


7. There is a steady increase in the land used for food production.
The 2003 census reveal that maize acreage increased from 1.2 mil ha
in 1994 to 3.4 ha in 2003. Higher input costs have affected food
production. Fertilizer is used only in 23% of the planted areas.
The national Strategic Grains Reserve (SGR) increased its stock to
150,000MT as compared to below 100,000MT in 2004. Private food
stocks are also believed to have increased significantly.

DAR ES SAL 00000275 002 OF 003




8. Supply is not affected by shortages of food processing
facilities. Processing is not a limitation as most millers operate
below their capacity. The major bottlenecks in supply chains are
port logistics and poor infrastructure in many areas. Major road
projects are underway and the recent privatization of the central
and northern railway lines should improve the infrastructure.


9. Tanzania has not yet witnessed a shift in production between
food and non-food commodities or an increase in the use of food
crops for non-food purposes. However, several U.S. and European
investors are turning to Tanzania for their bio-fuel projects; 4
projects on enthanol, jetropha, etc are mobilizing on the ground and
there are over 10 applications under review by the Tanzania
Investment Center (TIC) in collaboration with the Inter-Ministerial
Task Force for Bio-Fuel (Vice President's Office). The GOT has
formed a task force to formulate a national biofuel policy.
Biofuels are a new concept in Tanzania, so public attitudes have not
yet been affected.

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POLITICAL IMPACT
--------------

10. There have not been any public protests, violence, or other
threats to political stability due to rising food prices. Several
women recently appealed to the GOT through editorials in the Swahili
press to control the prices of food. The women told the GOT that
due to the increased prices of rice, beans, maize flour, sugar,
tomatoes, onions, and edible oil, many low income families had been
reduced to eating only one meal a day. One woman complained that
the price increases have caused marital problems in her household
due to misunderstandings on why their expenditures have increased
and the money provided by the husband for food is not sufficient.
The Executive Director of the Tanzanian Association of
Non-Governmental Organizations (TANGO),Ms. Mary Mwingira, suggested
the GOT should increase wages at the same rate that food prices are
increasing.

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ECONOMIC IMPACT
--------------

11. The Monthly Economic Review by the BoT indicates that annual
food inflation increased to 7.8%, higher than 6.9% in 2006. The
trade balance has been deteriorating. Although the worsening trade
balance is attributed mainly to import of fuel and capital goods for
foreign direct investment, the agricultural trade balance is also
worsening. While export earnings in 2007 amounted to $350 million,
the food import bill totaled $200 million.


12. Most Tanzanian farmers are subsistence farmers and would not
benefit from rising food prices. Almost 19% of population is
already below the food budget line, and more will be impoverished by
the rising food prices.

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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
--------------

13. Rising food prices continue to have a detrimental impact on
deforestation, water availability and quality, soil conservation,
and natural resources management. As farmers expand their land,
they encroach on fragile marginal and reserve land.

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GOVERNMENT POLICY RESPONSE
--------------

14. In January 2008, the GOT put some regions on food shortage
alert and announced a tax waiver on imported maize for a period of
w7k-krQFQAQtwQd;w9ure of declining
food production with maize volumes having dwindled for the 2007/2008
season, coupled with severe food crisis reports from 21 districts.
The waiver was aimed at importing 300,000 tons of maize to offset a
food shortage. The Minister of Agriculture, Food, Security and
Cooperatives, Peter Msolla, said that as of March 2008, only 6500
tons of maize has been imported despite the GOT's tax waiver as an
incentive for importers.


15. The Government of Tanzania is releasing grain from its food
stocks and importing food. The GOT has set aside 4,200 tons of
cereals to sell at a subsidized price. For the past three years the
GOT has been providing subsidized fertilizer to the four southern
highland regions, the bread basket for Tanzania. The Agricultural
Sector Development Strategy (ASDP) is a basket fund with
contributions from the government and donors. ASDP has developed a

DAR ES SAL 00000275 003 OF 003


strategy to transform agriculture in Tanzania.

GREEN