Tanzania recently marked a major milestone in food security, achieving 128% self-sufficiency and paving the way to export surplus produce to neighboring countries. President Samia Suluhu Hassan proudly shared the achievement during the World Food Prize Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue in Iowa on October 31, emphasizing the strides Tanzania has made in agriculture and the ripple effects across Africa. The dialogue, themed “Bold Measures to Feed Africa,” also featured Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio, and was moderated by Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group.
President Hassan noted that while food sufficiency has been reached, Tanzania is now focused on enhancing food quality, accessibility, affordability, and minimizing post-harvest losses to maximize agricultural productivity. “We realized that not investing in agriculture is much more costly than investing in the sector,” Hassan said, underscoring the need for strategic investment in food production as a driver of economic growth and stability.
Dr. Adesina applauded President Hassan’s efforts, attributing Tanzania’s success to her political commitment to advancing agricultural development. He pointed out that other African nations are inspired by Tanzania’s example, with many now making agriculture a priority to ensure food security for their own populations. This momentum indicates Africa’s readiness for deeper investments in its agricultural and food sectors.
Alongside food security, Tanzania has broken new ground by emerging as a processor and exporter of cashew nuts. Processing cashews within Tanzania is a unique achievement on the continent, as most African-grown cashews are typically sent to Asia for processing. This shift toward local processing has boosted Tanzania’s economy and solidified its position as a key player in regional agricultural markets.
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President Hassan also highlighted Tanzania’s progress in rural electrification, revealing that nearly all of the nation’s 12,300 villages now have access to the electrical grid. This expansion of infrastructure has supported agricultural productivity and improved quality of life for millions in rural communities.
Tanzania’s agricultural growth includes targeted efforts to engage the country’s youth. In partnership with the African Development Bank, Tanzania’s youth-focused training programs offer land and resources for young people to establish careers in agriculture. President Hassan shared that each participating youth is allocated 10 acres of land, with 11,000 individuals having already benefited. “We thank the African Development Bank for supporting that program,” she said, adding that this year’s harvest has already begun.
Tanzania’s successes offer a promising glimpse into the potential of a self-sufficient Africa, one driven by agricultural innovation and empowered by investment in its youth and infrastructure. As the country continues to share its surplus with its neighbors, Tanzania’s model of food security is becoming a beacon of resilience and progress across the continent.
