Tanzania Launches Aggressive Campaign to Attract Agribusiness Investors

Prime Minister Dr. Mwigulu Nchemba has issued a compelling call to investors, urging them to leverage Tanzania's extensive agricultural potential. Speaking at a discussion on agribusiness investment held on the sidelines of the Norman E Borlaug International Dialogue in Des Moines, Iowa, Dr. Nchemba highlighted significant opportunities across the entire agricultural value chain and emphasized access to a vast regional market of 170 million people in East and Central Africa.

Dr. Nchemba outlined diverse investment avenues, including crop processing and packaging, advanced warehousing solutions, critical cold-chain storage, efficient transportation, innovative digital services, and essential financial services tailored for farmers and traders. He stressed that these investments would contribute to both food and nutrition security while simultaneously creating tangible economic opportunities. The Prime Minister underscored Tanzania's considerable unutilized agricultural resources, noting that only 10.8 million of 44 million hectares suitable for agriculture are currently cultivated. Similarly, a mere 727,280 of a potential 29.4 million irrigable hectares are presently irrigated, indicating substantial room for expansion. To support this growth, the Tanzanian government has invested in irrigation schemes, seed production, and programs designed to encourage youth participation in agriculture, livestock keeping, and fisheries. Furthermore, various tax and non-tax incentives have been introduced to attract investment into the sector, with Dr. Nchemba reiterating the private sector's crucial role in adding value to agricultural produce, expanding markets, creating decent jobs, and strengthening overall food and nutrition security.

Contributing to the dialogue on agricultural advancement, Dr. Ranveer Chandra, Microsoft Chief Technology Officer for Research and Industry, elaborated on the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in agriculture. Dr. Chandra posited AI as a powerful tool to enhance farmers' knowledge and refine their decision-making, rather than replace their invaluable experience. He explained that many critical farming decisions, such as optimal planting, harvesting, and irrigation times, often rely on guesswork or personal experience due to a lack of comprehensive information. AI, he argued, could empower farmers with better-informed decisions, though making the technology affordable and accessible remains a significant challenge.

Dr. Chandra asserted that Tanzania is well-positioned to become a regional hub for AI-driven agriculture, citing its strategic geographical location and strong links to regional markets. He envisioned Tanzania serving as an exemplary model for AI integration in agriculture from which other countries in the region could learn, emphasizing the importance of accurate information tailored to local conditions. Dr. Chandra detailed Microsoft's decade-long commitment to agriculture, outlining several key initiatives in Tanzania. These include a collaboration with the MADE Alliance to support digital payment systems for 50,000 sunflower farmers, a partnership with Mawingu to expand telecommunications and internet access across the country, and a program with ABSA Tanzania and Women in Tech aimed at training 5,000 women in AI skills. He concluded by highlighting AI's potential to increase farmers' incomes, improve productivity, and significantly reduce post-harvest losses, areas where Microsoft actively collaborates with global partners.

Further demonstrating innovation in agribusiness, Adolfo Vidal Ruiz, founder and CEO of CeluNova, presented his company's pioneering work. CeluNova produces sustainable fibers from pineapple leaves, which serve as an alternative raw material for manufacturing products such as toilet paper and kitchen paper towels. Mr. Ruiz proudly described CeluNova's toilet paper, crafted from pineapple fibers, as highly absorbent and notably stronger than conventional paper products, showcasing a significant advancement in sustainable agricultural product development.