Swedish firm to invest in irrigation tech in Tanzania

WHICHEVER way you look at it, the life of an ambassador extends far beyond the ceremonial duties of cocktail receptions and flag-waving.

Behind the scenes, diplomats play a critical role as strategic matchmakers of pairing countries, ideas, investors and innovation to advance national interests and unlock development opportunities. This is precisely where Ambassador Mobhare Matinyi comes in.

As Tanzania’s envoy to the Nordic and Baltic nations, as well as Ukraine, Ambassador Matinyi serves not only as a representative of state but also as a catalyst for progress and skill-fully bridging Tanzania’s vast potential with the innovation, capital and expertise of global partners.

His work exemplifies modern diplomacy, where building meaningful, outcome-driven partnerships is central to national development. With that on mind on September 18, 2025, in the chilly air of Stockholm, Ambassador Matinyi made one of those important connections that could warm the hearts and fields of Tanzanian farmers for generations. Inside the Tanzanian Embassy in Sweden, the Ambassador met with two forces to reckon with as visitors: Henrik Johanson and Christopher Thunell, senior executives from a Swedish company called SPOWDI.

Now, SPOWDI may sound like a new kind of Wi-Fi router, but it is actually an acronym for something quite lifechanging: Sustainable Power for Off-Grid Water Distribution. In simpler terms, it is a smart irrigation system with solar-powered muscles and a farmer-friendly brain.

Their discussion was based on bringing smart, solar-powered irrigation technology to Tanzanian farms. Here is the magic: SPOWDI’s system uses a small solar-powered pump that pulls water from a pond and pushes it through a network of pipes to irrigate crops.

And it is not just cute, it is efficient in that it can caters for 500 square meters of farmland watered in just 15 minutes, 1 acre (around 4,000 sq meters) covered in no time, with minimal water waste and lastly no grid power, no diesel and no rain dances necessary.

In his remark Henrik Johanson, SPOWDI’s CEO said: “We are offering more than just equipment, we are offering independence from the weather, where farmers can irrigate as needed, reduce crop failure and even grow multiple times a year.” In history, Tanzanian farmers have long battled unreliable weather.

Rainy seasons arrive late, or sometimes not at all. Traditional irrigation systems can be costly and dependent on fossil fuels or unstable electricity. But, SPOWDI’s tech eliminates all of that. It is portable, sustainable and easy enough to run without needing an engineering degree or a team of technicians.

Even better, it is affordable and scalable. In fact, this system is already running successfully in Sweden, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Switzerland. In Africa, Kenya was the first to adopt it and now Tanzania is next in line.

So, why is SPOWDI so interested in Tanzania?

According to company executives in their discussion, it is the perfect storm of opportunity because of Tanzania’s favourable business environment, government policies that support agricultural innovation, a culture of hard work among Tanzanian farmers and above all a national push to increase agricultural productivity and food security.

Here, let us not forget the government’s bold vision: 140 per cent food self-sufficiency, meaning Tanzania now produces more food than it consumes.

“That is impressive by any global standard,” said Thunell, SPOWDI’s Cofounder. “It shows the country is not only feeding itself but also ready to export and we want to help take that to the next level.” The SPOWDI team is not just shipping gadgets, they are committed to investing in people.

The company is planning a pilot project in Tanzania starting November 2025, where the tech will be tested on local farms in real conditions. This won’t be a suitcase drop-and-go. It will include: Training for farmers; Onsite demonstrations; Data collection on yield improvements and Feedback from local agricultural experts.

The goal? Prove that smart irrigation is not just a shiny imported idea, but a locally adaptable, high-impact solution. In response, Ambassador Matinyi said: “This is exactly what we need” Ambassador Matinyi was quick to praise the initiative.

“This fits perfectly with our national goals,” he said. “We are working to increase income, reduce poverty, create jobs and become a regional food exporter. And for that, you need the right tools and the right partners.” He urged SPOWDI to make Tanzania their agricultural hub in East Africa, especially as the country focuses on transitioning from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture.

He also emphasised the importance of solutions that are: Environmentally sustainable; Scalable for smallholders and large farms alike; Easy to integrate with local practices.

Farming as business, not gamble

The days of farming as a seasonal lottery need to end.

With tools like SPOWDI, Tanzanian farmers can finally treat agriculture as a reliable, year-round business. Instead of praying for rain, they can plan for profits. Instead of harvesting once a year, they can grow more, earn more and lift their communities out of poverty. Imagine a farmer in Newala or Tandahimba, waking up, checking the sun (not the clouds) and turning on a solar-powered irrigation system.

His crops grow faster, stronger and healthier. His income doubles. His kids go to school. He hires a few neighbours. Maybe even buys a tuktuk. That is not just a dream. With smart tech and smart partnerships, it is the future.

What is next? The November pilot project

SPOWDI’s visit to Tanzania is set for November 2025, when they will demonstrate the technology on Tanzanian soil, work with farmers and local leaders, start pilot projects in selected regions and lay the groundwork for broader national rollout.

If successful, Tanzania could become SPOWDI’s East African flagship, opening the door for local manufacturing, job creation and further agricultural tech innovation. In a nutshell the final thought from Stockholm to Shinyanga, Mbeya and Mara is that solutions are solar.

What started as a diplomatic meeting in a chilly Swedish office could spark a warm, sunfuelled revolution on Tanzanian farms.

And if there is one takeaway, it is this: Smart irrigation is not just about saving water. It is about saving livelihoods. So, here is to solar pumps, ambitious ambassadors and a future where Tanzanian farmers don’t wait on clouds, but rise with the sun.