President Samia pledges increased investment in livestock and fisheries at Nane Nane Exhibition

TANZANIA – President Samia Suluhu Hassan has reaffirmed her government’s unwavering commitment to fostering an inclusive economy through strategic agriculture, livestock, and fisheries investments. 

At the 31st edition of the Nane Nane exhibition, held on August 8th at the Nzuguni Nanenane Grounds in Dodoma, President Samia highlighted the government’s increased budget allocations to agriculture, livestock, and fisheries as part of a broader strategy to enhance productivity, sustainability, and international visibility. 

The Nane Nane exhibition, an annual event commemorating Farmers’ Day in Tanzania, is a national platform to showcase achievements and innovations in these sectors.

During the exhibition, which attracted over 500 exhibitors from across the globe, President Samia presented a symbolic cheque to beneficiaries of Agricultural Development Bank (TADB) funding, showcasing the tangible benefits seen by youth engaged in the livestock and fisheries sectors. 

She encouraged the youth to take advantage of the available resources, particularly in livestock and fisheries, to improve their economic status.

The Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Abdallah Ulega, announced that the TADB funds are provided as concessional loans, with plans for continued financial support in the 2024/25 fiscal year. 

Ulega reported that the ministry’s budget for the upcoming year has doubled to 465 billion Tanzanian shillings (approximately US$171.56 million) to provide better support for livestock keepers and fishermen. 

He also announced a major national livestock vaccination campaign and initiatives for livestock identification. The ministry plans to offer concessional loans for 450 fishing boats and 900 fish cages to enhance the fisheries sector and contribute to individual and national income.

These initiatives align with the government’s broader goal of achieving sustainable economic growth by leveraging the agriculture, livestock, and fisheries sectors, which employ 65.6% of the population and have ensured more than 100% food self-sufficiency for Tanzania.

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, who also addressed the exhibition participants, reiterated that these sectors are the backbone of Tanzania’s economy. 

He noted that the government is aggressively pursuing international markets to ensure the country’s agricultural, livestock, and fisheries products contribute significantly to sustainable economic growth. 

The ongoing efforts to build and refurbish livestock processing industries, fishing infrastructure, and aquatic species development were highlighted as key components of the government’s strategy to strengthen these vital sectors.

SAGCOT’s end-to-end solutions

The exhibition highlighted the achievements of the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT), now rebranded as the Agricultural Growth Corridors of Tanzania (AGCOT). 

Geoffrey Kirenga, CEO of SAGCOT Centre Limited, emphasised the importance of this rebranding, which reflects the initiative’s expansion across the country. 

AGCOT aims to extend sustainable and inclusive agriculture to more regions, building on SAGCOT’s success in transforming value chains like potatoes, soybeans, dairy, and poultry.

SAGCOT’s commitment to end-to-end value chain solutions has significantly improved the livelihoods of thousands of smallholder farmers. 

Notable achievements include transforming the potato value chain, enhanced soybean production through the Tanzania Sustainable Soybean Initiative (TSSI), and advancements in the dairy and poultry sectors. 

For example, ASAS Dairies Ltd.’s production of powdered milk has opened new markets for smallholder farmers, while initiatives in poultry, such as drafting the National Poultry Strategy, have strengthened the industry by improving access to affordable and nutritious feed.

SAGCOT’s strategic approach has attracted over US$1.32 billion in private-sector investments over the past decade, driving the growth and modernisation of Tanzania’s agricultural landscape.

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