NEWS FEATURE | AGRICULTURE & INDUSTRY

Tanzania Charts Bold Path to Cooking Oil Self-Sufficiency

National Strategy Targets $1.37 Billion in Export Revenue Through Palm Oil and Sunflower Expansion

By Kilimokwanza.org Team

Dodoma, Tanzania — February 17, 2026

TANZANIA is making a decisive move towards self-sufficiency in the production and processing of cooking oil — a strategic shift that aims not only to end the country’s costly dependence on imported edible oils, but to transform the East African nation into a major exporter to international markets.

These ambitious targets were unveiled at a landmark joint working session held on February 17, 2026, in Dodoma, where the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Gerald Mweli, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ambassador Waziri Salum, convened key stakeholders from across the agriculture and industry sectors to chart the future of Tanzania’s edible oil production.

A National Strategy Takes Shape

The session brought together experts from a range of critical institutions, including the Cereals and Other Produce Regulatory Authority (COPRA), the Agricultural Growth Corridors of Tanzania (AGCOT), the Agricultural Market Development Trust, the Uchumi Institute, and the University of Dar es Salaam. Together, these organisations have been tasked with developing a comprehensive National Edible Oil Strategy. The strategy focuses specifically on scaling up production of oil palm and sunflower — two crops identified as the pillars of Tanzania’s cooking oil transformation agenda.

“Tanzania has the capacity to become self-sufficient in cooking oil production and processing. We need to allocate approximately 2 million hectares for sunflower cultivation, up from the current 1.2 million hectares.”

— Mr. Gerald Mweli, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture

Production Target: 1.4 Million Tonnes by 2035

Ambassador Waziri Salum, the Permanent Secretary for Industry and Trade, placed strong emphasis on the commercial cultivation of oil palm. He urged experts and stakeholders to ensure that palm oil farming is conducted as a modern, commercially-driven enterprise capable of generating the raw materials needed by the country’s processing industry. The overarching goal: to achieve national production of 1.4 million tonnes of cooking oil by 2035 — a milestone that would fundamentally strengthen Tanzania’s economy.

Saving $200 Million, Earning $1.37 Billion

Presenting the details of the strategy, COPRA Director General Ms. Irene Mlola outlined projections that paint an encouraging picture of Tanzania’s edible oil future. According to the estimates presented, if the strategy is effectively implemented through strengthened policies, regulations, and the development of oil palm and sunflower value chains, Tanzania is expected to eliminate its need to import approximately 339,000 tonnes of cooking oil annually between 2030 and 2035. That single step would save the country an estimated US$200 million in foreign exchange.

But the ambition extends well beyond import substitution. The strategy also targets exports of approximately 406,000 tonnes of cooking oil, which would generate more than US$1.37 billion in revenue for the nation. These figures illustrate the scale of Tanzania’s potential transformation — from a country heavily dependent on imported cooking oil to a major African producer and exporter.

Doubling Yields: A Productivity Revolution

Central to the strategy is a bold plan to dramatically increase agricultural productivity. Currently, Tanzania’s average yield for oilseed crops stands at approximately one tonne per hectare. Through targeted investments in modern farming technologies, improved seed varieties, and farmer training programmes, the Ministry of Agriculture aims to raise yields to between two and four tonnes per hectare by 2030. This productivity leap, combined with the planned expansion of sunflower acreage to 2 million hectares, signals the government’s serious commitment to transforming the sector from the ground up.

A Promising Outlook

The joint session between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Industry and Trade signals a new era of cross-sectoral collaboration in tackling one of Tanzania’s most significant economic challenges. With the country currently spending hundreds of millions of dollars annually on cooking oil imports, this strategy has the potential to serve as a catalyst for sweeping change across the agriculture and industrial sectors, while creating substantial employment opportunities for young Tanzanians and boosting incomes for smallholder farmers nationwide.

Successful implementation will require close coordination between government, the private sector, research institutions, and farming communities to ensure that the targets set are met within the planned timeframe. If realised, this strategy will not only reshape Tanzania’s economic landscape but also position the country as a leading cooking oil producer on the African continent.

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Source: Ministry of Agriculture