Leveraging Blockchain Technology to Enhance Equity In Warehouse Receipt Systems in Tanzania: A Policy Brief

Tanzania's Warehouse Receipt Systems (WRSs) face challenges of inefficiencies, lack of transparency, and limited access for informal SMEs, women, and small-scale farmers. These issues hinder economic inclusivity and agricultural productivity, exacerbating income disparities and food insecurity within the country. Blockchain technology (BCT) emerges as a promising solution to tackle these obstacles by offering transparency, security, and trust through its decentralized ledger system. Through digitizing transactions and automating processes via smart contracts, BCT can mitigate fraud, facilitate access to credit, and streamline operations within WRS. This has the potential to empower marginalized groups like smallholder farmers and foster inclusive economic growth. This policy brief addresses the challenges plaguing Tanzania's WRS and proposes leveraging BCT to enhance equity within the system. The brief proposes the recommendations for implementing transparent governance structures, promoting information dissemination and inclusivity, and enhancing stakeholder collaboration to fully capitalize on the benefits of BCT in WRS. Ultimately, the adoption of BCT could revolutionize WRS, making it more equitable, efficient, and resilient, benefiting all stakeholders in Tanzania's agricultural supply chain.