Annual Performance Report: Year 2 FY2014: October 2013 – September 2014

The project is part of the Feed the Future (FTF) program, a cross-sector initiative to assist Tanzania in achieving its Millennium Development Goals to reduce hunger and poverty. The project's primary focus is on the Southern Agriculture Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) region, where FTF interventions cover a broad range of activities centered around developing the rice sector, increasing food security through improved productivity, processing, transport, and storage in the maize and rice sectors, and improving the nutritional status of Tanzanians through the development of the horticulture sector. A key pillar of the FTF model is the focus on developing irrigation hubs around which the FTF IPs can orient activities to maximize impact. The project has three main objectives: (1) improved and sustainable increase in irrigated agricultural productivity; (2) expanded access to markets; and (3) increased capacity of the Government of Tanzania authorities involved in rural roads and irrigation infrastructure rehabilitation and maintenance. To achieve these objectives, the project provides overall technical, coordination, scheduling, procurement, and funding management assistance to the GoT implementing partners to help ensure that the infrastructure projects are delivered in accordance with the project's goals and objectives. The project interventions cover five main components: Program Management, Irrigation, Regional Roads, Rural Roads, and Capacity Building and Training. Program Management provides overall technical, coordination, scheduling, procurement, and funding management assistance to the GoT implementing partners. Irrigation involves the development of irrigation infrastructure required for improved productivity and expanded production of rice and maize. Regional Roads focuses on the rural road infrastructure necessary for farmers to access resources and markets. Rural Roads involves the rehabilitation and maintenance of rural roads. Capacity Building and Training provides support to the institutional structures required for sustainable operation and maintenance of the investments. During FY2014, the project made significant progress in achieving its objectives. The project implemented a range of activities, including the development of irrigation infrastructure, the rehabilitation and maintenance of rural roads, and the provision of capacity building and training to the GoT implementing partners. The project also made significant progress in expanding market access and increasing the capacity of the Government of Tanzania authorities involved in rural roads and irrigation infrastructure rehabilitation and maintenance. The project's progress was monitored and evaluated through a range of indicators, including the number of irrigation schemes developed, the length of rural roads rehabilitated, and the number of farmers trained in sustainable agriculture practices. The project's financial performance was also monitored, with a total of $10.3 million spent on project activities during FY2014. Overall, the project has made significant progress in achieving its objectives and has contributed to the improvement of agricultural productivity, market access, and the capacity of the Government of Tanzania authorities involved in rural roads and irrigation infrastructure rehabilitation and maintenance.