Authors:
Nienke Beintema, Deogratias Lwezuara, and Bernadetha Munishi
Year:
2016
Publisher
International Food Policy Research Institute and Department of Research and Development
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Serious underinvestment
Volatility in yearly government and donor funding caused agricultural research spending to fluctuate during 2000–2014 and decline from 2010, despite additional funding from a World Bank loan through EAAPP. Underinvestment in agricultural R&D is serious. As of 2014, funding levels appeared to be rebounding, but Tanzania still only invested 0.29 percent of its AgGDP in agricultural R&D, well below the African Union and the United Nation’s recommended 1 percent target.
Serious capacity constraints
DRD and TALIRI struggled to attract and retain well-qualified staff during 2000–2014. New recruits—even those with PhD degrees—lacked experience, and most senior researchers were approaching retirement age. Both agencies contracted retired researchers to mentor the new recruits short-term, but this strategy ultimately failed due to insufficient project funding and lack of clear guidelines and assessment criteria for mentors. DRD and TALIRI both need solid training and mentorship plans, backed by government support.
DRD’s funding challenges
Agricultural R&D spending at DRD was low and declining during 2008–2014 (adjusted for inflation). The completion of phase 1 of the Agricultural Sector Development Program prompted withdrawal of donor funding, leaving little available for research. Longterm under-investment means infrastructure at DRD and TALIRI is outdated and poorly maintained. The agencies are now even more dependent on government support, especially given uncertainty around phase II of EAAPP.
Transformation of DRD
In efforts to increase administrative flexibility, funding diversity, competitiveness, and effectiveness, Tanzania made the decision to transform its government agricultural and livestock research departments into semiautonomous bodies. TALIRI was established for livestock research in 2012 and the bill to establish TARI was approved by Parliament in September 2016. This is an important step based on current financial and human resource capacity constraints.