Feed the Future Supports Tanzanian Students in Agriculture and Nutrition Sciences

On July 23 at the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania, Ambassador Alfonso E. Lenhardt hosted a farewell program for 58 Tanzanian students receiving Feed the Future scholarships to study agriculture, nutrition, and related fields at universities in Tanzania and abroad. Several distinguished guests delivered remarks, including the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Futakamba, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education Gesimba, and Vice Chancellor of Sokoine University of Agriculture Monela.

Over a 5-year period, Feed the Future will sponsor 120 Tanzanians for postgraduate studies in agricultural and nutrition sciences. Of the 58 students sponsored this year, 29 of them will pursue master’s and doctoral degrees at six American universities—Ohio State University, Michigan State University, Virginia Tech, Tuskegee University, University of Florida, and Iowa State University. The other students will pursue degrees at Tanzania’s Sokoine University of Agriculture or at African universities outside Tanzania.

In his remarks to the students, Ambassador Lenhardt said, “The American people are committed to helping Tanzania achieve its true potential as a bread basket for Africa. In order to achieve this critically important objective, we need strong leadership, we need innovation, we need dedication, and most importantly we need all of you to take this great educational opportunity and come back to Tanzania to accelerate its agricultural revolution. The United States looks forward to continuing our partnership with Tanzania in building the Tanzanian leadership capacity to alleviate food insecurity, malnutrition, and poverty.”