African Agriculture and Food Systems
In Nkhondola village in Zambia, Royd Michelo and his wife have transformed their farm into a self-sustaining agroecological landscape, exemplifying how ecological farming techniques are gaining recognition at global policy levels including COP30 climate negotiations. By Isaiah Esipisu Chongwe, Zambia: In a quiet village known as Nkhondola, in Chongwe District, Eastern Zambia, Royd Michelo and […]
By James Mwangi In the bustling agricultural markets of East Africa, a quiet but formidable transformation has been taking place across the southern highlands of Tanzania. What began over a decade ago as an ambitious experiment in public-private partnership—the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT)—is now shedding its regional skin to become a national […]
In one sweeping decision, an Africa country is tackling toxic agriculture in ways the wealthy world has only talked about. But the real test comes now—can it pull off the transition? By January 7, 2026, most of the world wasn’t watching when Prof. Joseph Ndunguru, Director General of Tanzania’s Plant Health and Pesticides Authority, affixed […]
By Kilimokwanza.org The agricultural sector, historically positioned as the engine of African economic development and the primary source of livelihood for the majority of the continent’s population, is currently besieged by a systemic crisis of financing. This report presents an exhaustive analysis of the structural, legal, and operational failures that characterize the relationship between African […]
By Anthony Muchoki No one remembers the farmer’s name. That’s how you know the story is true. The way they tell it across Nyandarua, Narok, and Kinangop, a man came from the south, from Tanzania, from somewhere beyond the border where hills soften into another country. He carried potatoes in a sack that was not […]
Titled “Mwongozo wa Uendelezaji wa Tasnia ya Parachichi”, this comprehensive roadmap, issued by the Ministry of Agriculture—outlines best practices from farm to export, defines quality standards (including dry matter ≥21%), clarifies stakeholder roles, and includes a regional harvest calendar for Hass & Fuerte varieties. A major step toward boosting smallholder incomes, export competitiveness, and sector […]
Dar es Salaam — Strategic investment in market promotion is delivering tangible gains for Tanzania’s horticulture sector, boosting exports, job creation, and global visibility, according to a new academic study released at the end of 2025. The paper, The Influence of Market Promotion on the Performance of the Tanzania Horticulture Sector, authored by Steven Tumaini […]
Kilimokwanza.org 2026- R1 1. Executive Summary The 2024-2025 period represents a pivotal juncture for the food systems of East Africa, characterized by a divergent yet interconnected trajectory of structural transformation across Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Rwanda. Following the debilitating sequence of climatic shocks—most notably the prolonged drought of 2020-2023 and the subsequent El Niño-induced […]
1. Introduction: The Anatomy of a Market Failure The global spice trade, a complex nexus of botanical vulnerability, geopolitical shifting, and climatic volatility, is currently witnessing a profound dislocation in its historical center: the Zanzibar Archipelago. For centuries, the islands of Unguja and Pemba have been synonymous with the clove (Syzygium aromaticum), a commodity that […]
1. Introduction: The Dual Heritage of Tanzanian Flavor The beverage culture of Tanzania is a complex tapestry woven from two distinct yet overlapping botanical heritages: the oceanic and the continental. Along the Swahili Coast and the islands of Zanzibar (Unguja and Pemba), the definition of “spice” aligns with the classical trade definitions—aromatic, dried seeds, fruits, […]