News: Tanzania Reaches 128% Food Self-Sufficiency, Exports Surplus Across Africa

Achieving an impressive 128% in food self-sufficiency, Tanzania now has a surplus that is being exported to neighboring African countries.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced this accomplishment, positioning Tanzania as a key contributor to regional food security and a leader in agricultural productivity.

According to africa.businessinsider.com, she announced this development on October 31 at the World Food Prize Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue in Iowa.

The session, titled “Bold Measures to Feed Africa,” was moderated by Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group, and also featured Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio.

READ: Africa: Tanzania’s exports to DRC rise to 4.4 percent, surpassing Kenya and Uganda amidst trade disputes

Hassan explained that after achieving food sufficiency, “we are now working on quality, accessibility and affordability, and how to minimize post-harvest losses.”

“We realized that not investing in agriculture is much more costly than investing in the sector,” she said.

Adesina commended President Suluhu Hassan’s leadership and determination, crediting her strong political will as key to Tanzania’s success in food security. He noted that other African nations are following suit, signalling the continent’s readiness for major investments in agriculture and food production.

Tanzania has also achieved a new milestone by becoming a processor and net exporter of cashew nuts, a rarity among African countries, as cashews are typically processed in Asia. Additionally, Tanzania has made remarkable strides in rural electrification, with nearly 100% of its 12,300 villages now connected to the grid, according to President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

Backed by investment from the African Development Bank, Tanzania’s creating jobs for youth and women programme is targeting the country’s 65% youth population with training in farming, agriculture, livestock and crop farming.

The Tanzanian leader said each youth is given 10 acres of land and is supported by training, already 11,000 have benefitted and this year’s harvest has begun. “We thank the African Development Bank for supporting that program,” she said.