The Tanzanian government has reaffirmed its commitment to improving farmers’ incomes by strengthening market access and ensuring more stable prices for commercial crops through a series of agricultural reforms and investment programmes.
Deputy Minister for Agriculture David Silinde told parliament on Tuesday that the government was implementing multiple interventions aimed at promoting commercial farming, stabilising crop prices and protecting farmers from volatility in global commodity markets.
He said a key pillar of the strategy is the Agricultural Development Fund (ADF), which is intended to help stabilise prices and support farmers during periods of declining international commodity prices.
The fund is part of broader efforts to shift Tanzanian agriculture from subsistence-based production to a more commercially driven system that can compete in regional and global markets.
Silinde said the government is also encouraging local consumption and value addition for agricultural products, including coffee, as a way of expanding domestic markets and increasing earnings for farmers.
“Farmers are being encouraged to process and add value to their produce before selling it in order to secure better prices and increase earnings,” he said.
The deputy minister was responding to questions from members of parliament who raised concerns about low returns for farmers and the need for stronger market research to identify sustainable export opportunities, particularly for crops such as coffee and grapes.
Lawmakers also sought clarification on government plans to modernise agriculture in regions such as Kagera, where much of production remains at subsistence level despite significant agricultural potential.
More Read
In response, Silinde said the government is expanding investment in irrigation infrastructure, fertiliser subsidies and mechanisation services to boost productivity and support commercial farming across the country.
He said feasibility studies and detailed designs are underway for four dams and 14 irrigation schemes covering a total of 19,000 hectares, which are expected to benefit around 30,500 farmers.
In addition, irrigation works in the Ngono River Basin are expected to support approximately 25,000 farmers across Muleba, Ngara and Bukoba districts.
The ministry has also distributed 58 sets of irrigation equipment to farmers in Bukoba, Ngara, Muleba and Missenyi districts, while establishing agricultural mechanisation service centres in Missenyi, Muleba and Karagwe to improve access to modern farming tools.
Silinde said these interventions are designed to increase productivity, improve resilience to climate variability and strengthen the supply of raw materials for agro-processing industries.
He added that the government is constructing agricultural markets across the country to reduce reliance on middlemen, who often purchase produce directly from farms at low prices.
More Read
“When traders buy produce directly from farms, farmers are often exploited and their future production capacity is undermined,” he said, adding that the new market centres would allow farmers to sell directly and receive fairer prices.
The government is also promoting fruit production and processing, particularly in regions such as Njombe, where farmers have faced challenges in accessing profitable markets despite strong production potential.
Plans are underway, through the Agricultural Development Fund, to establish small-scale fruit processing facilities and storage infrastructure aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and improving value chains.
Officials say the broader strategy is intended to transform agriculture into a more productive and commercially viable sector capable of supporting economic growth and improving rural livelihoods.
Agriculture remains a key pillar of Tanzania’s economy, employing a large share of the population, but productivity and market access challenges continue to limit earnings for many smallholder farmers.
The government says its current reforms aim to address these structural issues by strengthening infrastructure, improving market systems and encouraging greater private sector participation in agricultural value chains.
