Ready market for avocado, cashew nut in US, where are you?

TANZANIA: WHETHER you’re not getting enough sleep, feeling too much stress, or dealing with the myriad impacts of a global pandemic, there seems to be more need than ever for an energy boost.

But here’s the good news: Eating a nutritious and balanced breakfast can help jumpstart your energy for the day while keeping you full and focused as you work, play, or create.

In fact, researchers writing for the medical journal Nutrition Reviews defined breakfast as a meal that makes up at least 20-35 per cent of our daily energy needs.

Equally, nutritious food is one of the greatest tools we have in building and maintaining energy throughout the day, not to mention helping build healthy sleep habits at the end of the day.

These will not be complete without taking coffee (Caffeine is a stimulant), which means it increases activity in your brain and nervous system.

It also increases the circulation of chemicals such as cortisol and adrenaline in the body.

In small doses, caffeine can make you feel refreshed and focused.

Here, coffee intake about 2–5 cups a day is linked to a lower likelihood of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, liver and endometrial cancers, Parkinson’s disease and depression.

It’s even possible that people who drink coffee can reduce their risk of early death.

Think of avocado that are a source of vitamins C, E, K and B6, as well as riboflavin, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, magnesium and potassium.

Its consumption may include improving digestion, lowering the risk of depression and preventing bone loss.

Your list should also have cashew nuts, which are low in sugar and rich in fiber, hearthealthy fats and plant protein.

They’re also a good source of copper, magnesium and manganese nutrients important for energy production, brain health, immunity and bone health.

All these among others are grown in Tanzania and with these in mind, it is upon us to exploit any ready market outside, where demand is big.

With this background it is not a coincidence, when the US Ambassador to Tanzania Michael Battle called on farmers in the country to exploit opportunities of ready market of the crops (avocado, coffee and cashew nut among others) in his home country.

While speaking to reporters after visiting farmers’ pavilions funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) during the peak of Nanenane International Agricultural Exhibitions in Dodoma yesterday, Ambassador Battle further said that he is satisfied with the implementation of the projects.

Some of the booths that he visited included those run by organic ecological farmers namely Island of Peace (IDP), The Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) and Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA) among others.

Ambassador Battle noted that Americans are consuming large quantities of avocados, coffee and cashew nut from South American countries including Mexico, so he urged Tanzanian farmers to take advantage of the opportunity that still has a vast market.

“We in the United States through the USAID have been supporting farmers in various fields and to be honest, we feel relieved because there are positive results from the projects, but I would like to take this opportunity to encourage farmers in Tanzania to grow more avocados, coffee and cashew nuts, which are still in great demand in our country,” he pointed out.

Ambassador Battle said that in order for Tanzanian crops to have a reliable market in the United States, farmers must focus on organic farming.

He said agriculture is one of the areas where the emphasis can bring great economic, social and health changes.

The Ambassador said they were satisfied with the efficiency of the projects that they fund mainly in agriculture, while stressing the importance of focusing on quality, in order to have market confidence.

Elaborating, he added that the United States will continue to provide funding for the implementation of agricultural and other projects in Tanzania.

Speaking about USAID’s support in agriculture, Island of Peace Country Director, Ayesiga Buberwa said the United States has been able to reach farmers in the area of care, conservation and development of indigenous seeds.

She added that USAID has enabled young people to focus on agriculture, especially in the area of adding value to crops and making natural fertiliser using various techniques.

“We Island of Peace thank the American people for funding small-scale farmers who are now starting to benefit, basically we keep asking USAID to help more,” she pointed out.

The director further said their goal is to expand the scope by reaching especially smallscale farmers in rural areas, because they have a lot of potentials in conserving the environment, land and boosting their incomes.

“ We work with about 3,500 small-scale farmers but also with the National Federation of Smallholders Farmers’ Associations in Tanzania (SHIWAKUTA), which has over 45,000 members, it is our belief that through this partnership we will bring about a revolution in agriculture,” she said.

She further said that they are working mostly in Arusha region, but through the SHIWAKUTA they will go further.

For his part, SAGCOT Executive Director, Geofrey Kirenga said in collaboration with USAID they have been able to reach nearly 400,000 farmers who are engaged in the cultivation of 12 crops.

Kirenga said that USAID has been promoting agricultural growth at a high rate in the SAGCOT zone and the results have been positive, which makes them start thinking about going nationwide.

“We are pleased to see the United States become a part of the SAGCOT growing agriculture zone and have been able to reach nearly 400,000 farmers with 12 crops involved in the project”, he said.

He mentioned some of these crops are tomatoes, tea, potatoes, soybeans, grains, legumes and others, which makes the Southern regions recognised as a food pantry.

In addition, Kirenga also said SAGCOT in collaboration with USAID has helped build infrastructure such as roads that lead to Kilombero District and beyond.

Kirenga said USAID has boosted good relations between Tanzania and the United States, noting that sales have increased in the country.

“There is an increase in trade between the US and Tanzania and Ambassador Battle has said there is a market for chocolate, cashew nuts, sunflower oil and others, I ask that we welcome this opportunity,” he added.