Convened in October this year, the Tanzania National Task force held an experience sharing workshop to share experiences on management and strengthening of the Task Force and to provide input to the 2014/15 National Task force work plan. In attendance was a National task representative from Zimbabwe.

History of the African CA Task forces: The Conservation Agriculture Regional Working Group in Africa was established in 2007 with formation of CARWG for the Southern Africa region. The purpose of CARWG was to coordinate the activities of member organizations working to support the introduction and promotion of Conservation Agriculture in the Southern Africa Development Community -SADC region. The CARWG works in partnership with a network of National CA Task Forces which coordinate stakeholders within individual countries.

Supported by FAO, the CARWG is composed of CA national task forces as well as regional and international development agencies. Currently, existing members include National CA task forces from twelve SADC countries and the Organizations active in CA, who include ACT, CIMMYT, ICRAF, ICRISAT, FAO, NEPAD, SADC, CARE International, Concern Worldwide, GART, FANRPAN, SACAU and WVI. In September 2009, the CARWG held its first annual workshop in Johannesburg and its members resolved to meet annually with the view of strengthening CA practices.

The history of the Tanzanian National Task force

The Tanzania national task force was formed as one of the deliverables of the project called Conservation agriculture with trees (CAWT) - Scaling-up the science and practice of conservation agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and implemented in Ghana, Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania. It was during the Tanzania project inception workshop held in February 2011, that the formation of CAWT Task Force was proposed. The CAWT Task Force was launched on the 13th May 2011 and the terms of reference (TOR) were shared and agreed. The department of mechanization in the Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Cooperatives was appointed chair while ACT became the secretariat. This task force conducted three meetings during the life of the CAWT project. At that time the CAWT task force was meant to provide administrative advice and feedback to the development and implementing partners on the project direction, policies and services and to be a forum that promotes dialogue on issues related to CA in the agricultural and natural resource sector.

The COMESA-EAC-SADC Programme on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in the Eastern and Southern Africa Region adapted the task force while the Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Cooperatives continued to provide leadership and ACT continued to serve as a secretariat. Expansion and development of National Task Forces, with the participation for women's organizations and CSOs was emphasized leading to a review of the Terms of Reference. Some secretariat meetings (MAFSC, CFU, ACT) were conducted between February – August 2014, culminating into the National Task Force meeting of 20/21 October 2014

Membership to the Task Force

At this meeting, it was proposed that membership of organizations to the task force would be based on involvement in Conservation Agriculture activities in the country. The current proposed chair is the Tanzanian Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Cooperatives while the African Conservation Tillage Network is the secretariat to the National Task Force.

It was also proposed that members of the NCATF should be individuals and representatives of organizations who are active in the promotion of CA or have a major supporting role to play in carrying out the Mission. In order for a new individual or organization to be considered for membership they should apply in writing to the Secretariat.

The following was the proposed list of members to the National Task force

• Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Cooperatives, with one member each from the departments of Policy and Planning , Crops Development, Land Use and Planning, Research and Developments and Environmental Management Unit.

• Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism.

• The Vice President’s Office – Department of Environment

• Vice President’s Office – National Environment Management Council

• The African Conservation Tillage Network

• Muungano wa Vikundi vya Wakulima Tanzania

• The Conservation Farming Unit- Tanzania.

• Agricultural Council of Tanzania.

• The World Vision Tanzania.

• Sokoine University of Agriculture

• LIMAS, Mtwara

• University of Dar es Salaam

• Some Development Partners

• The Private Sector

• Agricultural companies

To ensure sustainability of the National Task force it was proposed that there was a need to

• Give the Task Force an identity by developing its vision, mission, values and branding it

• To position the task strategically by harmonizing it with other institutional structures and Committees within the different ministries and organizations.

• Develop a financial plan that includes a resource mobilization strategy.

• Develop platforms for knowledge and experience sharing.

• To streamline the National Task force activities into the Tanzania Agriculture Resilience Plan 2014 -2019 which serves as a roadmap for mainstreaming climate change within the current Tanzanian Agricultural policies and plans.

Article developed by Janet A Achora (ACT) based on the Proceedings of the Tanzania National Task Force meeting held in October 2014, Arusha- Tanzania.