Kilimokwanza.org Reporter

Tanzania stands at a critical juncture in its agricultural transformation. Modern irrigation is seen as the key to increasing food production, ensuring climate resilience, and improving farmers’ livelihoods. However, the sector faces multiple challenges, including high costs, technical inefficiencies, and outdated policies.

Agribusiness East Africa meeting on 2nd 03, 2025 , experts, policymakers, and farmers gathered to discuss the future of irrigation in Tanzania. Their conversations revealed key insights into the challenges, opportunities, and solutions shaping the future of sustainable irrigation.

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1. The State of Irrigation in Tanzania: Opportunities and Gaps

Tanzania has 29 million hectares of land suitable for irrigation, yet less than 1 million hectares are currently irrigated. This stark gap highlights the sector’s untapped potential.

Engineer Octavian Otwai, a key speaker at the meeting, emphasized the importance of modern irrigation techniques in improving productivity.

“Many people assume that paddy rice is an aquatic crop, but in reality, farmers flood their fields mainly to suppress weeds. By adopting System of Rice Intensification (SRI) methods, farmers can reduce water usage while increasing yields,” he explained.

Several irrigation technologies are already in use in Tanzania, including:

• Drip irrigation – Best suited for smallholder farmers growing vegetables.
• Sprinkler irrigation – Effective for crops like sugarcane and maize.
• Centre pivot irrigation – Used in large-scale projects like ASA’s 800-hectare seed farm and IFAD-supported schemes.

The discussion highlighted that adopting these technologies could increase production fourfold, particularly for smallholder farmers struggling with water scarcity.

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2. Water Sources: Managing a Scarce Resource

Water is the lifeline of any irrigation system, and access to reliable water sources remains a challenge for many farmers. Participants in the discussion identified four main sources of irrigation water:

• Rivers and natural springs
• Boreholes (deep wells)
• Rainwater harvesting systems (chaco dams, reservoirs)
• Government irrigation schemes

Despite these resources, inefficient water use remains a major problem. Jitu Soni, a farmer from Manyara and former MP for Babati Vijijini, stressed the importance of water efficiency in irrigation.

“If you have one hectare of land and your water source provides 20,000 liters per hour, you don’t need a reservoir. You can connect directly to the source and irrigate efficiently. But many farmers install expensive water tanks unnecessarily, driving up costs,” he explained.

Additionally, farmers lack awareness of water use regulations. Many begin irrigation projects without securing legal water permits, leading to penalties or water conflicts.

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3. High Costs and Technical Barriers: Can Small Farmers Afford Modern Irrigation?

One of the biggest hurdles to widespread irrigation adoption is cost. The price of drilling boreholes in Tanzania is significantly higher compared to other countries like India.

“In Tanzania, drilling one meter of a borehole costs between TZS 150,000 to TZS 250,000, while in India, the same process costs just TZS 12,000 to TZS 15,000,” said Jitu Soni.

This cost disparity hinders small-scale farmers from investing in irrigation, leaving them vulnerable to climate variability.

Additionally, the lack of skilled irrigation technicians means that farmers often receive poor advice, leading to expensive mistakes.

“Farmers invest in irrigation but later realize their systems don’t function properly due to poor planning and installation errors. There’s an urgent need for skilled irrigation experts,” said Engineer Octavian Otwai.

The meeting proposed the formation of the Micro Irrigation Association of Tanzania (MIAT) to regulate the sector and ensure proper installation of irrigation systems.

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4. Tax Barriers and Policy Gaps: The Need for Reform

Government policies and taxation were also a major discussion point. Tanzania currently charges VAT on irrigation equipment, making it more expensive for farmers to invest in modern systems.

“If you import a complete irrigation system, you don’t pay VAT. But if you import irrigation components separately—like pipes and pumps—you get taxed. This inconsistency is killing local manufacturing,” lamented Jitu Soni.

The Agriculture Council of Tanzania (ACT) is leading advocacy efforts to push for tax exemptions on irrigation equipment to encourage more private sector investment in irrigation.

“Without private sector participation, Tanzania will struggle to scale up irrigation development. The government must remove tax barriers to attract more investors,” said Tula Mloge from SAGCOT Centre.

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5. Sustainable Solutions: The Role of the IGG Tool

One promising initiative discussed was the Inclusive Green Growth (IGG) Tool, developed by SAGCOT Centre.

Tula Mloge explained:

“The IGG Tool helps farmers and agribusinesses integrate environmental sustainability, community engagement, and economic viability into their operations. It ensures that investments benefit both farmers and surrounding communities.”

The IGG Tool focuses on:

• Sustainable irrigation practices
• Social inclusion (gender equality, youth participation)
• Environmental conservation

Farmers adopting sustainable irrigation can increase yields while preserving natural resources for future generations.

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6. The Future of Irrigation in Tanzania: What Needs to Be Done?

The meeting concluded with key recommendations for improving the irrigation sector:

Policy Recommendations

• Remove VAT on irrigation equipment to lower costs.
• Provide government subsidies for modern irrigation like in India.
• Improve water governance to avoid overuse and conflicts.

Technical Solutions

• Train more local irrigation technicians to reduce installation errors.
• Expand affordable borehole drilling programs.
• Promote water-efficient technologies like drip and sprinkler irrigation.

Investment Strategies

• Strengthen public-private partnerships in irrigation projects.
• Encourage banks to provide affordable loans for irrigation investments.

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Conclusion: A Call to Action

Tanzania has a huge opportunity to transform its agricultural sector through modern irrigation. However, without policy reforms, cost reductions, and technical support, smallholder farmers will continue to struggle with unpredictable rains and low productivity.

As Jitu Soni summed it up:

“If we get irrigation right, we will solve food insecurity, increase exports, and lift thousands of farmers out of poverty.”

The time for action is now—and all stakeholders, from the government to private investors and farmers, must work together to unlock Tanzania’s full irrigation potential.