Center for Development of Potato Industry Tanzania CD-PIT

Based on a MoU between the Tanzanian and Dutch government a collaboration was started to further improve the potato value chain in Tanzania. A cluster of NL companies participated in this Public Private Partnership (PPP – in Dutch PPS) to set up a Center of Development for the Potato Industry in Tanzania (CDPIT). The project focused on a robust, competitive sector, on facilitating private sector sustainable development and creation of jobs and capacity building of farmers and companies in Tanzania involved in the value chain for sustainable potatoes production and marketing. The project outcomes showed big potential of potato production with high yields, when using high quality propagation materials and effective crop management. This contributed to the commitment of banks to provide loans to potato farmers and farmers cooperatives to enable them to invest more in the required inputs for a profitable potato yield. A local team was trained to enable knowledge transfer directly to farmers or via train-the-trainer concepts. Sustainable business relations between Dutch and Tanzanian partners and improved food security, more safe and healthy food are within reach.