DAR ES SALAAM, Sept. 18 -- DAR ES SALAAM is facing a widening food-system challenge as its rapidly growing population continues to increase demand for food while the city remains heavily dependent on supplies from outside the region.

The region currently produces only about 10,901 metric tonnes of food against an estimated demand of 1,304,280 metric tonnes, leaving a gap of approximately 1.293 million tonnes.

With a Food Self-Sufficiency Ratio of only about one percent, nearly 99 percent of Dar es Salaams food requirements must be met through supplies from other regions.

The challenge is becoming more significant as the citys population continues to grow. Dar es Salaam has a population of more than 5.3 million people and is projected t...