Tanzania targets 6 million hectares under improved seeds by 2030
The government plans to expand access to certified seeds, strengthen local production and increase agro-dealer outlets as it works to raise farm productivity and food security.
TANZANIA – Tanzania plans to double the area cultivated with improved seeds to 6 million hectares by 2030, up from about 3 million hectares today, under a new national strategy aimed at strengthening the country’s seed sector and supporting agricultural growth.
The target forms part of the National Strategy for the Development of the Seed Sector 2026-2030, which the government adopted on May 4. The strategy resulted from cooperation between Tanzania’s Ministry of Agriculture and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), alongside several technical partners.
According to IWMI, the plan focuses on strengthening seed certification systems, increasing investment in local seed multiplication, improving market information, and encouraging greater private sector participation across agricultural value chains.
The government also plans to expand the country’s agro-dealer network from 3,000 to 12,000 outlets. These dealers help farmers access certified seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation equipment.
“The Government of Tanzania fully supports this strategy, which is a major step in strengthening our agricultural sector and building sustainable and resilient food security,” said Deputy Minister of Agriculture David Silinde.
The announcement comes as Tanzania records steady growth in the supply of improved seeds. Official figures show seed availability increased from 44,581 tonnes in the 2020/2021 season to 72,031 tonnes in 2023/2024, a rise of about 62% over four years.
The Ministry of Agriculture attributes this growth largely to stronger capacity at the Agricultural Seed Agency (ASA) and the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI).
Despite the increase, available seed volumes met only 56.4% of national demand during the 2023/2024 season. Total demand stood at 127,650 tonnes. Local production supplied about 78% of available seeds, while imports filled gaps in specific crop segments.
Maize remained the country’s largest seed category, with 43,268 tonnes available during the season, representing 60.1% of total national seed volume. Of that amount, 29,539 tonnes came from local production while 13,729 tonnes came from imports.
However, differences remain across seed sectors. While maize benefits from a relatively established production system, vegetable seeds and some legumes, including soybeans and groundnuts, still rely heavily on imports.
These gaps point to the need for stronger varietal research, greater local multiplication capacity, and stronger seed supply chains as Tanzania works toward its 2030 target.
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