Tanzania wants agric self-sufficiency, must first break fertiliser import dependence

DAR ES SALAAM: AGRICULTURE remains the backbone of Tanzania’s economy, with recent figures showing continued growth in production, food security and exports.

However, behind these gains is a persistent challenge: The country remains heavily dependent on imported fertiliser, raising concerns about the cost and sustainability of agricultural expansion.

The agricultural sector’s growth rate rose from 3.9 per cent in 2021 to 4.1 per cent in 2024, while food production increased by 39 per cent, from 17.1 million tonnes in 2021/22 to 23.8 million tonnes in 2024/25.

The increase has strengthened Tanzania’s food position, with food self-sufficiency rising from 126 to 130 per cent and the country recording a surplus of 5.5 million tonnes above domestic requirements.

Agricultural exports have also expanded significantly, increasing in value from 2.1 US dollar billion in 2021/22 to 3.73 US dollar billion in 2024/25.

Cash-crop production has similarly risen from 973,436 tonnes in 2021/22 to approximately 1.6 million tonnes in 2025/26. The growth has partly been supported by 780 irrigation projects being implemented across the country.

Irrigation reduces dependence on rainfall and can enable more reliable and productive farming, but increased water availability alone cannot sustain higher yields.

Farmers also require quality seeds, appropriate technology, extension services, markets and affordable fertiliser. This is where Tanzania faces a significant vulnerability.

Government data for 2020/23 shows that about 87 to 90 per cent of fertiliser used in the country is imported, while only around 10 per cent is produced locally.

Heavy dependence on imports exposes farmers to international prices, transportation costs, exchange-rate movements and disruptions in global supply chains. These factors can increase production costs and, ultimately, affect food prices.

Tanzania has begun addressing this challenge by expanding domestic fertiliser production.

Local production increased from 32,239 tonnes in 2020/21 to 123,203 tonnes in 2025/26.

The government aims to raise production to 400,000 tonnes annually against estimated national requirements of 1.5 million tonnes and achieve fertiliser self-sufficiency by 2030.

The government also wants farmers to move closer to the Abuja target of applying 50 kilogrammes of fertiliser per hectare, compared with the current average of about 20 kilogrammes.

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Increasing fertiliser use could raise productivity, but affordability remains a major obstacle. The government has therefore introduced subsidies to reduce the cost burden on farmers and improve access to fertiliser.

However, subsidies alone cannot address the structural dependence on imports. Expanding domestic production and developing affordable alternatives are also necessary.

One area attracting growing attention is organic fertiliser. Local innovators argue that organic inputs can complement conventional fertilisers while improving soil health and making greater use of locally available resources. Among them is Dr Never Mwambela, Director of Plant Biodefenders Company.

After completing her PhD at Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology in Arusha, Dr Never focused her research on pest control and organic fertilisers.

She has developed several products, including Katangaze for tomatoes, biopesticides for maize, FCM for avocado and termite-control products for coffee.

According to Dr Never, her biopesticides have reached more than 50,000 farmers growing cotton, maize, avocado, coffee, grapes, rice, tomatoes and other crops.

The experience encouraged her to develop organic fertiliser, including a product made from seaweed and azolla for use on maize, rice, avocado, coffee, fruits and vegetables.

“As a woman, through my innovation I have managed to produce organic fertilizer made from seaweed and azolla, which is environmentally friendly. I request the government to give us subsidies so we can produce in large quantities and reach more farmers,” she says.

Plant Biodefenders manufactures its products at a factory in Kilimanjaro Region and is building another facility in Zanzibar.

Dr Never says the company employs 16 young people directly, while more than 100 Tanzanians have casual employment and about 200 people sell its products.

The company also works with more than 300 seaweed farmers and operates seaweed and azolla farms in Tanga and Zanzibar, creating an additional link between agricultural production and local manufacturing.

Dr Never says the factory currently produces 2,000 litres of fertiliser daily but could increase production to 10,000 litres with government subsidies.

“Currently the factory produces 2,000 litres of fertiliser per day, but I believe if we get government subsidies we have the capacity to produce 10,000 litres per day, because seaweed and azolla resources are available in abundance,” she says.

Her ambition is to see Tanzanian crops such as coffee, cotton, tobacco, cashew nuts, maize, tomatoes and avocado increasingly produced through agroecological methods.

She believes Tanzania could strengthen its position in global markets by promoting agricultural production that pays greater attention to environmental sustainability.

However, she acknowledges that greater use of agroecological inputs will require farmer education. Farmers need to understand how organic products should be used and how they can complement other soil-management practices.

Dr Never says empowering local organic fertiliser and pesticide producers could help Tanzania reduce its reliance on imported chemical inputs.

She adds that her products are already sold outside the country, although expanding the domestic market remains her immediate priority.

Plant Biodefenders also adds value to seaweed by producing oil, mosquito repellent and other products, which Dr Never says research has shown to be safe for human use.

She describes the company’s wider mission as participating in the agricultural value chain by developing products that address community challenges, particularly in food and medicine.

Farmers using the products have also reported positive experiences. Stella John, a farmer from Same District in Kilimanjaro Region, says Plant Biodefender products have helped fight crop diseases and improve soil quality. She says the results have encouraged other farmers to seek the products.

James Molel, a farmer from Arusha, describes Plant Biodefender as a ‘savior’ and calls on the government to empower local agriculturalinput producers.

The call is echoed by organisations promoting agroecology. IDP Director Ayesiga Buberwa says the organisation will collaborate with innovators promoting agroecological farming, arguing that safer production methods are important for Tanzania and the wider world.

TABIO Coordinator Abdallah Mkindi says the government has a responsibility to support producers of agroecological inputs because their products can benefit both farmers and consumers.

“TABIO is advocating for the use of organic inputs in agriculture. What Plant Biodefender is doing deserves government support and support from us stakeholders in this agriculture. I believe the day will come when Tanzania will speak with one voice in the area of agriculture,” he says.

Regulation is also becoming increasingly important as the domestic organic fertiliser industry develops.

Through the Tanzania Fertiliser Regulatory Authority (TFRA), 65 types of fertiliser have been registered, while more than 15 organic fertiliser producers are officially recognised and operating within the Authority’s regulatory system.

TFRA Registration and Licensing Manager Mwahija Irika, says the regulatory framework has created an enabling environment for producers to invest and register their products.

“We have succeeded in registering 65 types of organic fertiliser. Also, there are more than 15 organic fertiliser producers who are officially recognised and are in the Authority’s regulatory system,” Irika says.

He says TFRA will continue registering qualifying products to ensure farmers have access to organic fertiliser. Importantly, Irika says organic and industrial fertilisers should not necessarily be viewed as competing alternatives.

Instead, they can complement each other under Integrated Soil Fertility Management to improve soil health and productivity.

The government is also considering ways to increase the use of crop residues and other agricultural waste as raw materials for organic fertiliser.

Working with local councils could help turn waste into useful agricultural inputs while reducing dependence on imported fertiliser. Tanzania has made significant progress in agricultural production, food selfsufficiency, cash crops and exports.

The next challenge is ensuring that the inputs supporting these gains are affordable, reliable and increasingly produced domestically.

Expanding conventional fertiliser production, supporting credible organic fertiliser manufacturers and improving farmer education could help reduce Tanzania’s exposure to international fertiliser markets.

The objective should not simply be to produce more food, but to build a stronger agricultural value chain in which more of the inputs, jobs, skills and economic opportunities are generated locally.

For Tanzania, reducing fertiliser import dependence could therefore become an important part of making its agricultural growth more resilient, competitive and sustainable.