Tanzania’s Agriculture & Agro-Manufacturing Sector (2025–2035)
Executive Summary
1. Why Invest in Tanzanian Agriculture Now?
“Tanzania is transitioning from subsistence agriculture to agri-business at scale — and now is the time to enter.”
Tanzania is making agriculture a strategic economic engine. Backed by strong political will, rising public investment, and structural reforms, the country is building an enabling environment for agribusiness, value addition, and exports.
- Agriculture already contributes 26% to GDP, employs ~65% of the workforce, and offers the largest rural development multiplier.
- New initiatives like Agenda 10/30, AGCOT (Agricultural Growth Corridors of Tanzania), and e-Kilimo are transforming the ecosystem.
- The country is aggressively targeting agriculture sector growth of 10% per year, aiming to expand agro-industrial exports from $1.2B → $5B+ by 2030.
This sector is primed for scalable investment in production, processing, logistics, tech, and export infrastructure — with the potential for strong returns and social impact.
2. Core Opportunities by Product Industry Cluster
| Sub-sector | Key Products | Why Invest Now |
|---|---|---|
| Cash crops | Coffee, tea, cashew | Strong export demand; improving yields & certification; investment in processing (roasters, packers, etc.) |
| Cereals | Maize, rice | Domestic food security + regional trade opportunity; maize surplus already growing; irrigation & mechanization will expand scale |
| Horticulture | Tomatoes, avocado, spices, onions, etc. | Tanzania aims for $2B+ horticulture exports by 2030; rising demand from Gulf, India, EU; low-cost labor & vast arable land |
| Livestock & poultry | Chicken, beef, milk, eggs | Rapid urban population growth; rising protein demand; large untapped rural base for scalable feedlots & cold chain |
| Fishing / aquaculture | Nile perch, tilapia, prawns | Lake Victoria, Indian Ocean access; growing export demand; government support for aquaculture zones |
| Agro-processing | All crops | Huge post-harvest losses (30%+); minimal value addition today; growing local demand for packaged, branded, clean-label products |
3. Why Tanzania? What Makes This a High-Potential Landscape
Favorable Demographics & Urban Growth
- Fast-growing population (70M+ by 2030)
- Rising middle class + urbanization = rising food demand
- East African regional market access (200M+)
Policy Tailwinds
- Massive agri budget increase: from TZS 294B → TZS 1.2T (2021–2025)
- Irrigation expansion target: 5 million hectares by 2030
- Seed innovation, input subsidies, digital extension, market platforms
Agri-corridor Infrastructure
- Expansion of SAGCOT → AGCOT = multiple regional growth zones
- Proximity to ports (Dar, Tanga, Mtwara) for export
- Power + road + ICT investments aligning with agro hubs
Untapped Arable Land
- Tanzania has over 44 million hectares of arable land, but only ~25% is under cultivation.
- Long growing seasons, multiple agro-ecological zones (highlands, coast, lake zone)
Favorable Climate & Water Access (with irrigation)
- High rainfall zones and surface water access (Rufiji, Pangani, Victoria basin)
- Ongoing investment in water harvesting & irrigation tech
4. Projections to 2030 / 2035 — The Market Opportunity
Based on recent government and industry targets:
| Metric | 2025 | 2030 | 2035 | CAGR (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture GDP (USD) | $22.9B | $35–40B | $70–80B | ~7–10% |
| Horticulture exports | ~$700M | $2B | $4B+ | 12–14% |
| Cashew production | 528K MT | 1M MT | 1.3M+ MT | 7–9% |
| Coffee exports | ~80K MT | 150K MT | 200K MT | 8–9% |
| Maize production | 12.2M MT | 20M MT | 28–30M MT | 5–7% |
| Value-added share of exports | ~20% | 35% | 50% | — |
5. Investor-Ready Areas
Greenfield & brownfield investment:
- Agri-processing plants: cashew, oilseed, coffee, fruit pulp
- Irrigation services, solar-powered agri-tech
- Cold chain & logistics hubs (especially near horticulture clusters)
- Export-oriented horticulture farms (avocado, chili, ginger)
Joint Ventures / PPPs:
- Agro-industrial parks under AGCOT/SAGCOT
- Processing & packaging for domestic and regional retail chains
- Seed & fertiliser production (demand increasing fast)
- Livestock + feedlots with veterinary services
Fintech / AgriTech:
- Precision agriculture, market platforms, e-extension, insurance, weather data
- Supply chain traceability / quality control / export compliance
6. Our Ask to Investors / Clients
“This is not just agriculture — this is Africa’s next value chain revolution.”
We are looking for smart, patient capital and industry partners ready to co-invest in:
- Scalable agricultural enterprises
- Value chain infrastructure (processing, logistics, storage)
- Climate-smart, tech-driven production systems
- Export-oriented operations with global quality standards
We can facilitate:
- Project structuring
- Land access, licenses
- Incentive navigation (tax, trade, infrastructure)
- Local partner vetting
- Access to off-take agreements (domestic & regional)
Closing Statement
Tanzania is not starting from zero — it’s scaling from a strong base.
The policies are in place, the production is growing, and the government is actively courting investment.
If you want to be part of the next decade of agricultural transformation in Africa — Tanzania is where it begins.