Tanzania has taken a bold step toward boosting its agricultural sector with the official launch of the Agriculture Development Fund (ADF). The newly established fund has been designed to channel resources into strategic areas that will drive sustainable growth, improve food security, and enhance farmer livelihoods.
At its inaugural session in Dodoma, the fund’s Advisory Committee laid out a detailed plan of action to strengthen agricultural productivity and competitiveness. The ADF will focus on financing projects that address critical gaps in infrastructure, input accessibility, research, and value addition across different subsectors.
The committee emphasized that one of the fund’s main objectives is to enhance agricultural infrastructure. Key projects approved include the construction of horticulture produce collection centres, which will provide farmers with reliable markets and reduce post-harvest losses. By creating organized collection hubs, the government aims to improve logistics and ensure a steady supply of fresh produce to both local and export markets.
Another milestone initiative under the ADF is the procurement and installation of two sisal processing machines. Tanzania, already one of the largest producers of sisal in the world, seeks to revive and modernize this traditional cash crop. By investing in modern processing technologies, the fund intends to increase production efficiency, improve quality, and open up new market opportunities for farmers.
The fund will also promote innovation in seedling and disease management. Plans are underway to establish a tissue culture laboratory for large-scale seedling production and a plant pathology laboratory to address crop diseases more effectively. These facilities will enhance access to high-quality planting materials and safeguard crop health, directly benefiting farmers with higher yields.
To support agricultural research and technology transfer, the ADF will finance the procurement of vehicles for the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI). This move is expected to improve extension services and ensure that modern farming technologies reach farmers across the country. Additionally, the construction of integrated agricultural equipment centres will provide farmers with access to affordable machinery and technical services.
The Agriculture Development Fund is set to become a vital driver of transformation in Tanzania’s agricultural sector. By targeting priority areas, the fund not only seeks to empower farmers but also to create a resilient, modernized, and market-oriented agriculture system that will contribute significantly to national economic growth.
