TBL and VETA patner to equip 300 young Tanzanians with practical agricultural skills

• TBL Ujuzi-Kwanza scholarship program to advance youth employability, entrepreneurship and sustainable agricultural value chains

DAR ES SALAAM: Tanzania Breweries Plc (TBL) and the Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch the Ujuzi-Kwanza Scholarship Program, a partnership aimed at developing practical agricultural skills, creating opportunities for young people and supporting Tanzania’s agricultural transformation.

The three-year program will equip 300 young Tanzanians from low-income households with skills across the agricultural value chain, including agricultural production, equipment maintenance, agro-mechanics and related technical competencies. It aims to improve youth employability, encourage entrepreneurship and strengthen agricultural productivity.

Under the agreement, TBL will cover training fees while VETA will provide accredited training, technical expertise and nationally recognized qualifications. Participants will also gain practical experience in agricultural operations and services, including opportunities within TBL’s barley and sorghum farming communities.

The agreement was signed by Michelle Kilpin, Managing Director of TBL, and CPA Anthony Kasore, Director General of VETA. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Kasore emphasized the importance of developing skills that respond to the agricultural sector’s evolving needs.

“VETA was established to equip Tanzanians with practical, industry-relevant skills. As our agricultural sector is modernizing, we need skilled young people who can support agricultural production, improve farming practices, maintain equipment and provide essential technical services. This partnership creates opportunities for talented young Tanzanians who might otherwise be unable to afford training, while ensuring their skills respond to real industry needs,” said Kasore.

Agriculture remains central to Tanzania’s economy, contributing 26.3% of national output, according to the Economic Survey 2024, and employing more than half of the country’s working population, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. As the sector modernizes, demand for skills across agricultural production, irrigation, post-harvest management, mechanization and related services continues to grow.

“Most of what we brew begins on Tanzanian farms. Our business grows alongside the farmers who supply us, and their success depends on access to the right skills, technology and services. By investing in young people with practical agricultural skills, we are creating opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship while strengthening the value chains that sustain livelihoods and support our business,” said Michelle Kilpin, Managing Director of TBL.

With more than 800,000 young Tanzanians entering the labor market annually, according to the Parliamentary Budget Committee, practical agricultural training offers pathways into employment, self-employment and entrepreneurship across farming operations, agricultural enterprises, equipment maintenance and related services. VETA’s most recent tracer study found that 75% of graduates were employed or self-employed, with self-employment accounting for a greater share than formal paid employment.

The partnership builds on TBL’s longstanding relationship with Tanzanian farmers since 1933. The company purchases barley and sorghum from more than 2,500 smallholder farmers in Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Manyara and Dodoma, supporting them with seeds, financing, agricultural training and guaranteed markets with Its Kilimanjaro Malting Plant in Moshi completing its first full year of operations in 2025 using locally grown barley reinforcing TBL’s commitment to local agricultural value chains.

Highlighting VETA’s expanding role in skills development, Kasore noted that enrolment increased from 69,347 students in 2022/23 to 116,468 in 2025/26, with 65 new colleges expected to open in January 2027.

“As VETA expands access to vocational education, partnerships with industry are essential to bridging the gap between training institutions and labor market needs. Through Ujuzi-Kwanza, we are equipping young Tanzanians with practical skills that translate into employment, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods. Together with TBL, we will track graduates’ progress to measure the program’s impact,” Kasore added.

The program aligns with Tanzania Development Vision 2050, particularly its ambitions for a skilled workforce, agricultural transformation and inclusive economic growth. It also supports Agenda 10/30, which targets 10% annual agricultural growth by 2030, and the Building a Better Tomorrow program, which promotes youth participation in agribusiness.

Emphasizing the program’s long-term ambition, Kilpin said:

“We will measure success not simply by the number of young people trained, but by what they go on to achieve. Our ambition is to see young Tanzanians turn practical skills into meaningful careers, successful enterprises and sustainable livelihoods, while contributing to a stronger and more productive agricultural sector.”