Tanzania’s Livestock and Fisheries Ministry Targets Growth and Modernization in Ambitious 2025/2026 Budget

Dodoma, Tanzania – The Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, under the leadership of Minister Hon. Dr. Ashatu Kachwamba Kijaji (MP), presented its financial blueprint for the 2025/2026 fiscal year to Parliament on May 23, 2025. The detailed plan outlines significant investments and strategic interventions aimed at boosting production, enhancing market access, and improving the overall value chain for both sectors, crucial contributors to Tanzania’s economy and citizen livelihoods.

The budget speech highlighted the government’s continued focus on transforming the livestock and fisheries sectors, aligning with national development goals including the National Development Vision (2025), the Third Five Year Development Plan (FYDP III) 2021/2022 – 2025/2026, and the CCM Election Manifesto of 2020.

Sector Performance Overview:

In 2023, the livestock sector contributed 6.2% to the National GDP and experienced a growth rate of 5%. It provides employment for approximately 4.6 million households across its value chain. The total value of livestock in the country rose from Tsh. 30.49 trillion in 2023/2024 to Tsh. 33.22 trillion in 2024/2025. This increase was attributed to a rise in livestock numbers, with cattle growing by 3.4% to 39,241,375, goats by 3.6% to 28,595,597, sheep by 3.2% to 9,658,880, and poultry by 5.0% to 108,221,085. Meat production increased by 9.4% from 963,856.55 tons in 2023/2024 to 1,054,114.03 tons in 2024/2025, valued at Tsh. 10.38 trillion. Milk production also saw an increase, reaching 4.01 billion liters in 2024/2025, up from 3.97 billion liters in the previous year, with a value of Tsh. 3.21 trillion.

The fisheries sector contributed 1.7% to the GDP in 2023 and grew by 1.4%. It employs around 6 million Tanzanians, with 201,661 direct fishers and 49,084 in aquaculture. As of April 2025, total fisheries production reached 599,200.33 tons, valued at Tsh. 3.44 trillion, an increase from 472,579.34 tons in the comparable period of 2023/2024. Fish exports up to April 2025 amounted to 39,841.98 tons, along with 148,041 ornamental fish, valued at Tsh. 480.55 billion, marking a 16.13% increase in export value compared to the previous year.

Review of 2024/2025 Budget Implementation:

For the 2024/2025 fiscal year, the Ministry was allocated Tsh. 460,333,602,000, with Tsh. 97,215,432,000 for recurrent expenditure and Tsh. 363,118,170,000 for development projects. As of April 2025, a total of Tsh. 131,956,236,286.44 (28.67%) had been released. For recurrent expenditure, Tsh. 53,268,629,752.59 (54.79%) was released, while development projects received Tsh. 86,562,975,004.59 (23.84%).

Revenue collection by April 2025 reached Tsh. 56,068,897,105.84, which is 97.94% of the ten-month target of Tsh. 57,587,500,000. The livestock sector collected Tsh. 29.47 billion (96.56% of its ten-month target), and the fisheries sector collected Tsh. 26.60 billion (96.73% of its ten-month target).

Key achievements in 2024/2025 under the four priority areas included:

• Increasing Production, Markets, and Value:
  • The National Artificial Insemination Center (NAIC) produced 110,434 doses of semen from its 35 breeding bulls, achieving 73.62% of its 150,000-dose target. 92,587 doses were distributed to livestock keepers.
  • Government farms produced 416 improved heifers (41.6% of the 1,000 target), with 147 distributed. Private farms produced 3,066 improved heifers, distributing 2,893.
  • Meat exports reached 9,863.41 tons by April 2025 (89.9% of the 10,971-ton target), valued at USD 44.07 million, primarily to 11 countries including UAE and Saudi Arabia.
  • The ASAS Dairies factory began producing powdered milk, with a capacity to process 100,000 liters of raw milk daily.
  • Leather production reached 15,191,500 pieces (4,735,000 cattle, 7,728,000 goat, and 2,728,000 sheep hides), valued at Tsh. 34.13 billion.
  • The Kilwa Masoko Fishing Port construction reached 81.9% completion by April 2025.
  • 59 modern fishing boats and gear were completed and distributed, primarily in Tanga.
  • Aquaculture production reached 132,243.45 tons (including 43,590.45 tons of fish and 88,615.20 tons of raw seaweed) by April 2025, valued at Tsh. 315.27 billion. Fingerling production increased to 123,877,354.
• Strengthening Protection and Management of Resources:
  • 728,153,645 doses of various livestock vaccines were distributed by April 2025, with 153,952,375 doses produced locally (58,822,475 by TVI and 95,129,900 by private factories).
  • A national livestock vaccination and identification campaign was launched, with preparations including procurement of 19,099,100 doses of CBPP vaccine, 17,230,000 doses of PPR vaccine, and 40,000,000 doses of Newcastle Disease vaccine, all locally produced. 36,323,300 digital ear tags were procured for identification.
  • Anti-illegal fishing patrols were conducted for 3,168 workdays, an 8.72% increase from the previous year, leading to the confiscation of illegal gear and undersized fish. Blast fishing in the Indian Ocean has been successfully controlled for over a year.
  • 32 buoys were installed in Lake Victoria to demarcate fish breeding and nursery areas.
• Promoting Investment:
  • 25 parent stock poultry farms and 28 hatcheries were established with a capital of Tsh. 543.999 billion, producing 71.53 million chicks.
  • The Ministry facilitated loans worth Tsh. 664.89 billion to 207 fisheries sector beneficiaries and 289 livestock sector beneficiaries through TADB, CRDB, and NMB.
  • The BBT program provided 20 youth groups (106 youths) with 1,761 acres at Kagoma Ranch and Tsh. 934.23 million in interest-free loans for cattle fattening.
• Strengthening Research, Training, and Extension Services:
  • TALIRI and TAFIRI coordinated 67 research projects (out of 52 planned) and disseminated 14 technologies.
  • LITA enrolled 4,928 students in certificate and diploma programs, an increase of 10.64% from the previous year. FETA enrolled 1,085 students and provided short courses to 5,263 participants.
  • The Tanzania Vaccine Institute (TVI) produced 58,822,475 vaccine doses valued at Tsh. 3.86 billion.
  • DSFA issued 47 deep-sea fishing licenses and facilitated the construction of a fish processing plant in Tanga by ALBACORA Group.

Budget and Priorities for 2025/2026:

The Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries is requesting a total of Tsh. 476,655,072,000 for the 2025/2026 fiscal year. This comprises:

• Recurrent Expenditure: Tsh. 101,516,670,000
  • Salaries (PE): Tsh. 47,264,785,000
  • Other Charges (OC): Tsh. 54,251,885,000
• Development Expenditure: Tsh. 375,138,402,000
  • Local Funds: Tsh. 227,994,375,000
  • Foreign Funds: Tsh. 147,144,027,000

The Ministry aims to collect Tsh. 74,105,001,000 in revenue, with Tsh. 38.3 billion from the livestock sector and Tsh. 35.8 billion from the fisheries sector.

Priorities for 2025/2026 remain consistent:

1. Increasing production, markets, and value of livestock and fisheries products.
2. Strengthening protection and management of livestock and fisheries resources.
3. Promoting investment in the Livestock and Fisheries Sectors.
4. Strengthening research, training, and extension services for the Livestock and Fisheries Sectors.

Key planned activities include:

• Infrastructure Development:
  • Completion of the Kilwa Masoko Fishing Port.
  • Feasibility study and ESIA for Bagamoyo Fishing Port.
  • Completion of 7 fishing markets and 6 landing sites.
  • Completion of 3 aquaculture centers (Nyengedi, Ruvula, Rubambagwe) and 3 Fisheries Resource Protection Centers (Sota, Simiyu, Nyakalilo).
  • Completion of 23 livestock auction markets (17 primary, 4 secondary, 2 border).
  • Construction of 10 milk collection centers.
• Livestock Development:
  • Continuation of the Climate Smart Dairy Transformation Project (C-SDTP) valued at Tsh. 452 billion over 10 years, including procurement of 1,500 dairy cattle and 2,000 doses of sexed semen.
  • Increasing pasture seed production to 333.54 tons.
  • Continuation of the National Livestock Vaccination and Identification Campaign, procuring 30 million CBPP vaccine doses and 30 million PPR vaccine doses.
  • NARCO to produce 4,870 calves and distribute 824 improved heifers.
• Fisheries and Aquaculture Development:
  • TAFIRI to produce 15 million fingerlings and provide extension services to 15,000 aquaculturists.
  • Completion of 20 aquaculture demonstration farms.
  • TAFICO to be strengthened with the procurement of 2 deep-sea fishing vessels (out of 4 planned) and construction of a fish processing plant and a fish feed mill (30 tons/day capacity).
  • DSFA to license 89 vessels for deep-sea fishing and implement an Electronic Monitoring System with cameras on vessels.
• Research, Training, and Extension:
  • LITA to enroll 5,736 students and FETA to enroll 1,681 students.
  • Provision of 200 motorcycles for extension officers.

The Minister, Hon. Dr. Kijaji, expressed gratitude to all stakeholders, including development partners, the private sector, and the parliamentary committee, for their support. She particularly lauded President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan for her leadership and commitment to the sectors, which has led to significant reforms and increased budgetary allocations. The Ministry’s comprehensive strategy aims to ensure the livestock and fisheries sectors play an even more pivotal role in Tanzania’s socio-economic development and the realization of the Blue Economy’s potential.