By Asha Kamata, Dodoma
Persistent drought and increasingly unpredictable rainfall continue to pose a serious challenge in many parts of Tanzania, causing significant losses for farmers due to unreliable farming seasons. Many farmers harvest little, while others lose crops entirely—threatening household incomes and national food security.
Against this backdrop, farmers in Dodoma Region have urged the Government to fast-track the implementation of commitments made at the 30th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), which concluded on November 22, 2025, in Brazil. Key priorities include the rollout of rainwater harvesting projects and the establishment of agricultural insurance schemes.
During the conference, Tanzania was cited among countries that received a pledge of approximately USD 20 million (about TZS 48 billion) to address the impacts of climate change, with agriculture identified as a priority sector.
According to farmers, the funds should be directed toward rainwater harvesting initiatives for irrigation farming, alongside agricultural insurance mechanisms that would protect them against losses caused by drought and climate variability.
Farmers from Bahi District, Samwel Mlugu and Agustino Ndonuu, say that rainwater harvesting would enhance agricultural resilience in their largely rain-fed areas, while insurance would help cushion losses.
“Many times we get harvests far below expectations because of drought and low rainfall here. We ask the Government to invest more of the COP funds in rainwater harvesting—it would greatly help us during dry periods,” said Agustino and Samwel.
On agricultural insurance for farmers affected by climate change, they noted that such schemes would prevent them from losing everything. They emphasized the need for farmer registration in formal systems to ensure transparency, with the involvement of agricultural extension officers.
“Insurance will help us recover losses and ensure all farmers benefit. It is important for the Government to register farmers in official systems and work closely with extension officers in our areas. This will ensure insurance is provided transparently and without favoritism, so the intended objectives are achieved,” they stressed.
International Guidelines
According to reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), arid regions such as Dodoma require urgent investment in water storage infrastructure as part of climate change adaptation. The reports identify rainwater harvesting as a fundamental measure to enhance agricultural resilience in rain-dependent countries.
Furthermore, under the Sharm el-Sheikh Joint Work on Agriculture and Food Security, the UNFCCC agreements call on countries to integrate water harvesting projects into their National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), including the construction of small dams and water storage tanks for farmers’ use.
On insurance, international institutions such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Bank recognize agricultural insurance as a key pillar for protecting farmers against climate-related disasters—particularly through index-based compensation systems linked to rainfall or drought indicators for smallholder farmers.
The Presidential Advisor on Environmental Affairs and Chair of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), Dr. Richard Muyungi, said that COP30 agreements have established mechanisms to track climate finance, including the formation of special oversight committees.
“Starting in 2026, each country will receive approximately USD 20 million to implement climate change adaptation projects across various sectors,” said Dr. Muyungi.
The implementation of rainwater harvesting projects and the introduction of agricultural insurance directly align with the 2013 Agricultural Policy, which emphasizes strengthening water infrastructure and risk-reduction systems for farmers.
These measures are also consistent with the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), which identifies rainwater harvesting and agricultural insurance as key pillars for safeguarding the agricultural sector against climate change impacts.
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