PM promotes Tanzania’s bid to join world’s top 10 food baskets

DES MOINES: PRIME Minister Mwigulu Nchemba has said Tanzania aims to become one of the world’s top 10 food-producing countries, building on investments made in the agricultural sector.

“Our long-term aspirations are outlined in Tanzania’s Development Vision 2050. Under the first goal, Tanzania aims to become a leading food producer in Africa and rank among the world’s top 10 food-producing countries,” he said.

The Prime Minister made the remarks while delivering a keynote address during a discussion on the future of agriculture in Africa at the Norman Borlaug International Dialogue, also known as the Borlaug Dialogue, taking place at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, United States.

He said Tanzania’s agricultural initiatives had helped the country achieve a food self-sufficiency level of 130 per cent.

He added that the country’s agricultural exports had increased significantly, rising from US$2.1bn US dollars in the 2021/2022 financial year to 3.7bn US dollars in 2024/2025.

Dr Nchemba noted that agriculture remains a key pillar of Tanzania’s economic transformation, contributing 24.6 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employing 65 per cent of the workforce and accounting for approximately 30 per cent of export earnings while supplying raw materials to domestic industries.

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Commenting on the discussion’s theme, “Before Hunger Defeats Us,” the Prime Minister said the message called for urgent action, but stressed that urgency must be accompanied by hope.

“Africa is not only a continent facing food security challenges; it also has enormous potential to become a major contributor to global food security. Tanzania intends to be part of that transformation,” he emphasised.

He called for increased investment in farmers, science, young people, women and resilient food systems, as well as greater support for Africa’s agricultural potential.

“Let us invest in farmers, and let us also invest in science. Let us invest in young people and women. Let us invest in resilient food systems. Above all, let us invest in Africa’s agricultural potential.

“Indeed, before hunger defeats us, let us take action, invest and innovate together. Let us build food systems capable of feeding both present and future generations,” he stressed.