By Charles Mkoka
DODOMA, Tanzania — Tanzania’s Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) has urged farmers to exercise greater caution when sharing personal information while using digital systems for agricultural production, marketing and other activities.
The commission said the growing use of technology in agriculture has increased the collection, storage and exchange of farmers’ personal information across a range of digital platforms.
Speaking during the ongoing Nane Nane agricultural exhibition in Dodoma, PDPC Director General Dr Emmanuel Mkilia said protecting personal data was essential to building trust among farmers, buyers, financial institutions, technology companies and other actors across the agricultural value chain.
“When you identify markets, this also involves digital systems and the exchange of various types of information, some of which is private,” Dr Mkilia said.
The commission said farmers should understand their rights regarding personal data and know how their information is collected and used by institutions and digital platforms they engage with.
The message comes as Tanzania increasingly promotes digital technologies as a tool for improving agricultural productivity and access to markets. This year’s Nane Nane theme, “Know the Market, Increase Productivity towards the National Development Vision 2050,” also highlights the growing role of technology in the sector.
PDPC said farmers should ensure that their personal information is not disclosed or used in ways that do not comply with requirements for privacy and data security.
“Our emphasis is to ensure that this information is protected and used appropriately, while respecting the privacy of everyone involved across the entire agricultural value chain,” Dr Mkilia said.
The commission also encouraged farmers to embrace digital technologies to improve productivity and connect with markets, while taking basic precautions to safeguard their personal information.
As more agricultural services move online, including marketing, financial services and production-related platforms, PDPC said effective personal data protection would help build confidence and enable farmers to participate more fully in Tanzania’s digital economy without compromising their privacy or security.
