.JPG)
TAHA fruitfully hosted the Annual Retreat meeting for Policy Analysis Group (PAG) at Gran Melia, Arusha on the 17th and 18th of September 2020 to evaluate the key investment policy reforms. In attendance were members from different organizations including Development partners, Profit and Non-Profit making organizations not only to review policy reforms, but also to deliberate on effective strategies to improve investment opportunities in the Agriculture Sector. Officiating at the important meeting, TAHA Group CEO, Dr. Jacqueline Mkindi highlighted the key current policy reforms and underscored the importance of translating them for the grassroots level to grasp. She told members that the key issues in the agriculture clusters have been identified and comprehensively discussed to create an enabling environment that will surely spur the private sector investments. Some of the policy reforms that were highlighted in the Government budget 2020/21 including the exemption of Value Added Tax on Agricultural Crop Insurance, removal of input tax restrictions on exports of raw products, reduction of Skills Development Levy (SDL) from 4.5 to 4 percent among others. In his keynote remarks, Policy Advisor – ASPIRES, Prof. David Nyange, appreciated TAHA for hosting this year's PAG retreat. Dr. Nyange recognized PAG’s contribution into various policy changes, pleading with the PAG members to strategize on how to effectively disseminate the reforms to numerous stakeholders such as key players in private sectors, donors, and the government at all levels in order to realize the meaningful impacts. Effective communication strategy framework in a bid to raise public awareness in the fiscal reforms and communicate the impact of the reforms to the sector was among the key issues featured prominently in the PAG meeting deliberations. The participants also discussed the mechanisms to gauge the performance of the reforms by developing a monitoring framework. After two days meeting the PAG delegates had the opportunity to visit one of the TAHA’s comprehensive members, Rijk Zwaan Tanzania, to learn on the ground the level of investment and technology used in the horticulture industry as well as getting a clear understanding of successes and challenges. Policy Analysis Group (PAG) formed by policy analysts from key Institutions, Organizations and Development Partners, entrusted to advocate for policy reforms in the agriculture sector with an eye to improve business environment and intensify investment.
