Warehouse receipt systems and agricultural transformation in Tanzania: unlocking smallholder prosperity through policy innovation
Loading...
Date
2026
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
REPOA
Abstract
Tanzania's agricultural sector remains the backbone of the national
economy, with smallholder farmers playing a vital role in ensuring food
security and sustaining rural livelihoods. Despite their centrality, these
farmers continue to face structural barriers—including limited access to
markets, financial services, and modern agricultural technologies. In
response, policy innovations have been central to agricultural reform
efforts. Among these, the Warehouse Receipt System (WRS) stands out
as a transformative mechanism, offering smallholder farmers both market
stability and improved access to finance.
This chapter examines the interplay between broad policy frameworks
and targeted innovations in the agricultural sector, with a specific focus
on the WRS. The introductory section provides an analytical overview of
agricultural policy innovations in Tanzania, evaluating their impacts on
productivity and smallholder livelihoods. The second section explores the
WRS in detail, highlighting its mechanisms, contributions to market
efficiency, and the challenges that hinder its full potential. The chapter
integrates these perspectives and offers a comprehensive understanding
of how policy frameworks and interventions shape the dynamics of
agricultural development in Tanzania.
Description
Book Chapter 10, pp. 307-344
Keywords
Warehouse receipt systems, Agricultural transformation, Tanzania, Unlocking smallholder prosperity, Innovation policy