A new United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) scheme will help Tanzanian farmers expand their access to markets and ultimately bolster their food security.

The nearly $3 million project, funded by Germany, aims to help the African nation's agricultural sector shift from subsistence to commercial farming.

Most of Tanzania's farmers are traditional smallholders and will receive technical assistance in farm management and marketing and will be encouraged to join producers' groups. They will also be trained in business management and marketing.

According to FAO, if greater priority is given to good practices in both production and marketing, decision-makers at all levels in Tanzania will be better able to ensure that agriculture will respond to consumers' - and not just individual households' - demands.