The Developmental State and Food Sovereignty in Tanzania

Abstract

Tanzania has been experiencing different periods of food shortages mainly because of insufficient food production. While the country has an undisputable potential for food production, the state and its development partners, such as the World Bank, believe that the unsustainable peasant food production is the main cause of the food crisis. As a panacea to the food crisis, a call for de-peasantization in favour of commercial large-scale farming, is advocated. Inspired by the work of Sam Moyo, this article argues that achieving food self-sufficiency should begin with improving peasant agriculture instead of dispossessing peasants of their land. The principles of food sovereignty must be adopted and the orientation of the state must be developmental. The state must play an activist role in investing heavily in agricultural-related projects.