When Empire Met Reality in the Tanganyikan Bush A Feature Story on Colonial Hubris and Agricultural Catastrophe by Anthony Muchoki In the scorching heat of January 1947, Major-General Desmond Harrison stood atop a Land Rover, surveying the vast Tanganyikan bushland stretching endlessly before him. Armed with little more than British optimism and a government checkbook, he was about to…
Partnership targets 21,000 farmers, aims to quadruple yields and position Tanzania as a regional soybean hub By Elizabeth Shumbusho, Kilimokwanza Reporter Dar es Salaam, October 23, 2025 — In what stakeholders are calling a watershed moment for Tanzanian agriculture, the Royal Norwegian Embassy and PASS Trust formally signed a three-year partnership agreement that could revolutionise the country’s soybean value…
DODOMA – The Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Gerald Mweli, has ordered the immediate reinstatement of 216 employees of the Wakulima Tea Company (WATCO), which operates tea factories in Katumba and Mwakaleli in Rungwe District, Mbeya Region. The directive came during a meeting in Dodoma on October 21, 2025, with company owners, workers’ representatives, trade union…
A single acre can yield 145,000 shillings in profit—or wipe out your entire investment. Agricultural experts reveal why potato farming in Kenya is a gambler’s crop. Nakuru: In the rolling hills of Meru, John* counted his losses last harvest season. The 200,000 Kenyan shillings he had invested in potato farming—his hope for a better year—had vanished almost overnight. Late…
Section 1: Executive Summary The landscape of Value Chain Finance (VCF) in Kenya represents one of the most dynamic and pivotal arenas for economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa. With an estimated market size for supply chain finance reaching approximately KES 2.8 trillion ($24.8 billion), the sector is not merely a niche financial offering but a critical engine for growth,…
MBEYA, Tanzania – In the fertile southern highlands of Tanzania, a strategic push is underway to transform the country from a regional breadbasket into a continental powerhouse. For years, the abundant maize and rice harvests from these green corridors have held the promise of prosperity. Yet, a formidable barrier has often stood between local producers and lucrative international markets:…
A Sweet Revolution Blooms in East Africa’s Hidden Paradise By Kilimokwanza.org Team October 2025 In the misty embrace of the Kilombero Valley, where the Udzungwa Mountains rise like ancient guardians over lush, emerald fields, a quiet revolution is unfolding. Here, under the dappled shade of banana groves and towering avocado trees, smallholder farmers cradle cocoa pods the size of…
Executive Summary The Kenyan potato sector stands at a pivotal inflection point. As the nation’s second most important food crop, it is fundamental to food security and provides livelihoods for an estimated 3.5 million people. However, the sector is defined by a deep and persistent productivity gap, with average national yields languishing at 7–12 tonnes per hectare, a fraction…
According to Sheena Raikundalia, Chief Growth Officer at Kuza One, a deep dive into Kenya’s potato supply chain reveals a system in which farmers, processors, and the national economy are all losing out—despite the country’s ravenous appetite for the humble chip. NAIROBI, KENYA – In Kenya, few things unite the culinary landscape like “chips,” the beloved local term for…
By Elizabeth Wanjiku In Kenya’s highlands, where potatoes rival maize as the second-most important staple, two varieties dominate the conversation—and the market. One is a homegrown hustler, the other a foreign-bred strategist. Together, they’ve carved a potato economy worth over KES 50 billion a year, feeding millions and anchoring a complex value chain. This is the tale of Shangi…