Open Letter to the Honorable President of the United Republic of Tanzania Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete ON WORLD FOOD DAY

DATE 16/10/2012 Hon Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete The President of the United Republic of Tanzania. Salam, We Woman Food Heroes 2012 from 14 regions across Tanzania, constituting the mainland and the islands, represent millions of women farmers who 50 years after independence can make the country a peaceful place to live as we produce more than 95 percent of the food needed in the country; We applaud the commitment of the government of Tanzania to develop agriculture by recognizing that the small farmer is the "heart" of the economy of this country and the catalyst for development and a better life for every Tanzanian. We strongly support efforts made by our fellow farmers in the country, the government, other institutions and organizations, as indeed the agricultural revolution we envision will become a reality if each one of us takes responsibility in their area of work. We are touched by the increasing fear that allows a small group of people to enjoy the resources of our country while the majority remain silent and in poverty. We deplore 1. The shortage of agricultural extension officers and irresponsibility at the district levels. The low budget allocated to these agricutural extension officers transfers the burden to farmers like paying for their transport and forcing farmers to purchase inputs from private shops (especially shops selling agricultural inputs) 2. The priority given to big investors while small farmers remain poor and are unable to own assets, especially land. 3. The inequality in productivity, employment and investment in different sectors especially in the agricultural sector (plantations), mining and tourism We condemn 1. The breakdown between service providers (experts) and those who receive services (farmers and pastoralists). The service providers have to always be begged and "wooed" to perfom their duties which is a violation of principles of good administration. 2. The looting and mismanagement of land and other resources, including minerals and natural resources.

We recommend 1. There should be a comprehensive strategy to enable all families in Tanzania and especially women to own the land they are using. 2. Land surveying costs for small farmers should be scrapped and the cost of land ownership for large scale farmers increased to be comparable to that of international land markets in order to protect our land and also to ensure an income from the land to benefit the community. 3. Reducing the period of ownership allowed for large farmers from 99 years, they should be given five year leases giving the the opportunity to evaluate and ensure that their projects benefit small farmers and society as a whole. 4. All investors who were given land and have failed to use it within 3 years should have their documents cancelled by the Honorable President, thus returning the land to the small farmers. Also investors who owned land before independence and their 99 year leases are over should return the land back to small farmers 5. Tax relief for investors in large-scale farms should be scrapped, because we small farmers are tired of carrying their tax burden. CONCLUSION The small farmer is an investor, entrepreneur and productive. Let us leave the misconceptions that see only foreigners and the wealthy as investors. The new constitution needs to recognize this and create more rights for women and small farmers to own land. Written by: No Name 1 Emiliana Eligaesha 2 Febronia Peter 3 Halima Haji Omari 4 Tatu Abdi 5 Dora Myinga 6 Maryam Abdallah 7 Eline L. Orio 8 Joyce N. Nicodem 9 Zaituni S Likwita 10 Teresia Z. Kaseko 11 Mary Kamwaka Maumbi 12 Maimuna S. Mkwanje 13 Neema A. Linkay 14 Sr Martha Mwasu Supported by: 1 Tatu Masoud Region Kagera Marogoro Zanzibar Tanga Iringa Zanzibar Kilimanjaro Singida Lindi Shinyanga Rukwa Mtwara Arusha Dodoma Arusha Signature

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Venance Mushi Gabriel A. Lwinga Nelly Niyonkuru Abdallah Ganiko Jonathan Joakim Hamisi T. Madega Justin Bayo Zena T. Mwanyelo Bahati Kisulla Debora Mwakabenga Zuwena Hamad Saad Mohamed Magreth Keneth Shariff Mwinyi Chabo Kelvin Kinyami Rashidi Ndunduke Lukas Martin Kasamala Swaumu Mgeni Shabani Emmanuel S. Mkoba Beatrice Allen Chinyele Dora Harold Mhando Mubarak Makame Haji Hidaya Abdallah Nandonde Haruni Hatungimana Asmon Rose Ezekiel Teresia Zakaria Asha Mohamed Beenick Kimiro Lucky Israel Maregesi

Dodoma Katavi Burundi Dar es Salam Singida Bagamoyo Morogoro Tanga Dar es Salaam Mbeya Mwanza Kilimanjaro Mbeya Zanzibar Pwani Lindi Katavi Dar es salaam Mwanza Mtwara Morogoro Zanzibar Zanzibar Mtwara Burundi Arusha Katavi Kahama Dar es salaam Dar es salaam