COLUMN: THE AGRARIAN QUEST. Time to awake a sleeping giant in Tanzania’s pulses

LAST week, we had an honest discussion on pulses and recognised Tanzania’s impressive rise as Africa’s top exporter of dried legumes.

As I noted: “In 2024, Tanzania exported 590,399 tonnes, up from 447,943 tonnes in 2023—ranking first in Africa and eighth globally, behind only Canada, Australia, Russia, Myanmar, the US, Turkey and India.

Egypt followed with 411,365 tonnes, then Mozambique (262,739), Ethiopia (183,569), and Sudan (163,723).” But there was a surprising revelation particularly about Egypt. Although it exported fewer pulses by volume compared to Tanzania, it earned significantly more in revenue.

“Tanzania’s pulses exports were valued at 376.9 million US dollars, significantly lower than Egypt’s export value of 491.4 million US dollars. In other words, although Egypt exported less by volume, it earned over 100 million US dollars more than Africa’s top exporter by quantity, Tanzania.

For years, Egypt has been Tanzania’s main competitor in the pulses export market, especially over the past two years 2023 and 2022—when Egypt’s export value surpassed Tanzania’s by just over 14 million US dollars and 69 million US dollars, respectively.” The turning point for Egypt’s success has been its strategic focus on the common beans industry.

As I clearly pointed out: “Egypt’s comeback appears to stem from its strategic focus on a crop where it excels: Common beans. Of the 491.4 million US dollars earned from pulses exports in 2024, more than 300 million US dollars came from common beans—more than double the 143.8 million US dollars earned from common beans exports in 2023.” The truth is, Tanzania has greater potential than many African countries to outperform Egypt.

Here’s a brief look into Tanzania’s beans sub-sector: If we were to list valuable and vibrant agricultural products that are often underestimated, beans would certainly be at the top. With an annual production currently hovering around 1.3 million tonnes, Tanzania leads the continent and is a major supplier to neighbouring countries, as well as to countries in southern Africa and overseas.

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The last time global records were published, Tanzania ranked seventh in the world in common beans production. Nutritionally, beans are a powerhouse of protein.

The functions of protein in the human body include repairing and building tissues, enabling metabolic reactions, coordinating bodily functions and maintaining proper pH and fluid balance. Beans also contain fats, carbohydrates, fiber, iron, calcium, magnesium, vitamins and phosphorus. Beans and animal meat are often seen as nutritional competitors.

While meat does contain protein, it also carries cholesterol, which is harmful to heart health. Beans, on the other hand, offer protein without the dangerous cholesterol.

Additionally, beans are rich in antioxidants that combat the effects of free radicals produced during metabolism—providing long-term health benefits. Cancer is slowly becoming the world’s most alarming health threat.

Unfortunately, few people are aware that beans act as antioxidants and antiinflammatory agents. According to several studies, these properties make beans effective in preventing intestinal cancer and slowing the growth of colorectal cancer by inhibiting the multiplication of cancer cells.

The nutritional and economic benefits mentioned above are why beans are increasingly in demand. According to previous data from the International Trade Centre, Tanzania’s beans have an unrealised export potential of 4.4 billion US dollars.

Countries like the United Arab Emirates, India, Vietnam, China, Switzerland and Japan alone represent a 2.4 billion US dollars unrealised market for Tanzanian kidney beans. In short, while Tanzania has a significant production capacity, it still falls short of meeting global demand.

Another advantage is that beans can be grown in low-nitrogen soils without additional fertiliser, thanks to their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen into a plant-usable form. As land sizes shrink, beans offer a great farming option, especially through intercropping.

For example, a farmer can grow beans and maize together and benefit from both, as they are not mutually exclusive. Currently, per capita consumption of beans in Tanzania is around 14 kilogrammes. With the growing population and increased health awareness, internal demand is bound to rise. This will, in turn, pressure producers to scale up.