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…
Kilimokwanza.org Correspodent The world of agricultural science mourns the loss of one of its most formidable figures, Dr. Lusike Wasilwa, who passed away on September 20, 2025, while undergoing treatment at a Nairobi hospital. Her passing marks the end of an era for agricultural research and development in Kenya and across Africa. Dr Wasilwa’s career was not merely a…
How the EAC can close the soil–food security gap with track-specific policy, AgriTech, and scalable soil stewardship. The East African Community (EAC) stands at a pivotal moment. The intertwined crises of soil degradation and food insecurity risk eroding decades of development and destabilizing the region’s future. This report presents a comprehensive analysis of soil stewardship and its direct relationship…
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – Soil scientists from across Tanzania are invited to a crucial virtual meeting on Monday, September 22, 2025, to discuss the future of the discipline in the country and strengthen collaboration within the field. The meeting, scheduled from 2:45 PM to 4:00 PM EAT, will be held via Google Meet. The online gathering aims to…
Dar es Salaam – When the Private Agricultural Sector Support Trust (PASS) opened its doors in 2000, few could have imagined the scale of transformation it would spark. Established through a visionary partnership between the Government of Tanzania and the Government of Denmark, PASS has since become one of Africa’s most successful models for de-risking agriculture and turning smallholder…
Kilimokwanza Correspondent The air at Mtwara Port, thick with the salt of the Indian Ocean and the sweet, earthy scent of raw cashew nuts, tells a story of transformation. Not long ago, this deep-water port in Tanzania’s south was a sleepy gateway, its potential largely a footnote in national development plans. Cashew farmers from the surrounding regions of Mtwara,…