Agriculture in Tanga Region: Opportunities and Challenges

TANGA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE. (2023). United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF).

Tanga Region, located in northeastern Tanzania, has vast agricultural potential and contributes significantly to the local economy. Over 80% of the population is engaged in agriculture, making it the backbone of the region’s economy. However, the sector faces several challenges to optimize its potential and ensure sustainable development. This feature explores the key issues affecting agriculture in Tanga, the opportunities available, and the strategies needed to overcome the challenges.​

The Agricultural Landscape

Tanga Region boasts a total area of about 2,764,534 hectares, of which 1,893,356 hectares are arable land. Currently, 1,206,800 hectares are utilized for agricultural production, with the primary agricultural practices being rain-fed. The region’s main rivers, including Pangani, Mkomazi, Zigi, Umba, and Lwengera, offer significant potential for irrigation, but this remains largely untapped​.

Crops and Livestock Production

Tanga’s agricultural sector is diverse, with the production of various food and cash crops. Food crops grown in the region include maize, cassava, bananas, legumes, millet, sorghum, and paddy. Tanga is also favorable for horticultural crops like potatoes, vegetables, and spices such as black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves. On the other hand, commercial crops such as sisal, cashew nuts, sunflowers, tea, cotton, and coffee are also cultivated, contributing to the region’s export revenue​.

Livestock farming is another vital component of Tanga’s agricultural landscape. The region had approximately 975,444 herds of cattle, 960,278 goats, 342,251 sheep, and 2,973,018 poultry as of 2021. Despite the large numbers, livestock farming in Tanga is primarily free-range, with animals grazed freely in pasturelands. This system poses limitations in terms of productivity and susceptibility to diseases, necessitating a shift towards more modern, intensive systems to enhance productivity and ensure food security​

Key Challenges in Agriculture

1. Reliance on Rain-Fed Agriculture: Despite the potential for irrigation, Tanga’s agriculture is predominantly rain-fed, making it vulnerable to climate variability. The dependence on rainfall limits agricultural productivity and poses a significant risk to food security, especially in the face of unpredictable weather patterns exacerbated by climate change​(tanga-investment-guide-…).
2. Limited Use of Modern Agricultural Practices: The adoption of modern farming techniques, including mechanization, improved seed varieties, and fertilizers, remains low. This limitation reduces crop yields and overall productivity, keeping many farmers trapped in subsistence farming rather than progressing to commercial agriculture​(tanga-investment-guide-…).
3. Inadequate Infrastructure and Market Access: Poor road networks and inadequate storage facilities significantly hinder the transportation of agricultural produce to markets, both locally and internationally. This limitation results in high post-harvest losses and lower incomes for farmers​(tanga-investment-guide-…).
4. Challenges in the Livestock Sector: The livestock sector faces numerous challenges, including limited access to veterinary services, low adoption of improved breeds, and inadequate livestock infrastructure like dipping tanks and holding grounds. These challenges have led to low productivity and poor quality of livestock products​(tanga-investment-guide-…).
5. Limited Financial and Technical Support: Smallholder farmers in Tanga often lack access to financial services and technical support, which are crucial for adopting modern farming techniques and improving productivity. Financial constraints prevent farmers from investing in necessary inputs, such as fertilizers and high-yield seeds, while the lack of technical support hinders the proper utilization of available resources​

Opportunities for Agricultural Development

Despite these challenges, Tanga Region offers immense opportunities for agricultural development.

1. Irrigation Potential: The region has significant potential for irrigation development, with several rivers and valleys suitable for constructing dams and irrigation infrastructure. Investing in irrigation could transform agriculture in Tanga from subsistence to commercial farming, increasing productivity and ensuring food security​(tanga-investment-guide-…).
2. Investment in Agro-Processing: Tanga has great potential for establishing agro-processing industries due to the availability of raw materials such as cashew nuts, sisal, sunflower, and groundnuts. Developing value chains for these crops could enhance their value, increase farmers’ incomes, and create employment opportunities in the region​(tanga-investment-guide-…).
3. Promotion of Modern Farming Practices: There is a need to promote the adoption of modern farming practices, including the use of improved seeds, fertilizers, and mechanization. Providing farmers with access to these resources and training could significantly increase productivity and profitability​(tanga-investment-guide-…).
4. Livestock Development: There are opportunities to modernize livestock farming through improved breeding, better disease control, and adopting semi-intensive and intensive farming systems. Such improvements could enhance productivity, ensure food security, and increase exports of livestock products​(tanga-investment-guide-…).
5. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Strengthening PPPs could provide the financial and technical resources needed to develop the agricultural sector. Engaging private investors in large-scale farming, agro-processing, and infrastructure development could accelerate growth in Tanga’s agriculture​

Strategic Interventions for Overcoming Challenges

To overcome these challenges and harness the opportunities, several strategic interventions are necessary:

• Development of Irrigation Infrastructure: Investing in irrigation infrastructure is crucial to reduce dependence on rainfall and enhance agricultural productivity. This investment could involve constructing new dams, rehabilitating existing ones, and promoting drip and sprinkler irrigation systems​(tanga-investment-guide-…).
• Enhancing Access to Finance and Technical Support: Establishing financial institutions tailored to the needs of smallholder farmers, coupled with providing technical training and extension services, could empower farmers to adopt modern practices and increase productivity​(tanga-investment-guide-…).
• Improving Infrastructure and Market Access: Upgrading road networks and establishing better storage and market facilities would reduce post-harvest losses and improve market access for farmers, increasing their incomes and incentivizing higher production​(tanga-investment-guide-…).
• Promotion of Research and Development: Encouraging research and development in agriculture to develop drought-resistant crops, improve livestock breeds, and innovate farming techniques could enhance productivity and ensure sustainability in the sector​(tanga-investment-guide-…).
• Strengthening Institutional Support and Policy Frameworks: A robust policy framework and institutional support at all levels of government are essential for driving agricultural development. This support includes creating favorable policies for land use, investment, and market access, as well as fostering a conducive environment for private sector participation.​

Agriculture remains a critical sector for Tanga Region, with vast potential for growth and development. However, realizing this potential requires addressing the existing challenges through strategic interventions and harnessing available opportunities. With concerted efforts from all stakeholders, including the government, private sector, and local communities, Tanga’s agricultural sector can thrive, contributing significantly to the region’s socio-economic development​

Agricultural Land and Usage:

• Tanga Region has a total area of approximately 2,764,534 hectares, of which 1,893,356 hectares are classified as arable land. About 1,206,800 hectares are currently under cultivation.

Population:

• The region’s population is approximately 2.3 million people, with the majority engaged in agricultural activities.

Livestock Population:

• As of 2021, Tanga Region had around 975,444 cattle, 960,278 goats, 342,251 sheep, and 2,973,018 poultry.

Irrigation Potential:

• There are significant irrigation potentials in the region’s major rivers, such as Pangani, Mkomazi, Zigi, Umba, and Lwengera. However, these potentials remain largely untapped.

Land Allocation for Specific Investments:

• Handeni District Council: 21.6 hectares of land are available in the Kwenjugo-Konje area for establishing factories.
• Korogwe Town Council: 5 hectares of land are available at Old Korogwe-Lwengera for beef processing industries.

Legume Farming:

• There is a confirmed demand for legumes, such as soybeans and pigeon peas, in India and China, and the current production level is significantly below the market demand.

Cassava Farming:

• There is an assured global demand for cassava, with specific opportunities for large-scale farming in districts like Kilindi (8,333.30 acres in Sangeni, 451.63 acres in Mkuyu, and more).

Cashew Nut Farming:

• Potential for large-scale farming of cashew nuts, with districts such as Handeni offering conducive environments for large-scale cultivation.

Oilseed Farming:

• Suitable sites for sunflower and sesame farming have been identified in various districts, with 148,302 hectares allocated for oilseed farming in Kwamsisi, Kwachaga Mazingara, and other areas.