Vision 2050: Transforming Tanzania’s agriculture for inclusive economy

DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA’S transition toward the National Development Vision 2050 marks a new chapter in the country’s efforts to build a strong and inclusive economy that benefits all citizens.

The vision aims to transform Tanzania into a resilient middle-income economy driven by productivity, innovation, technology and active citizen participation across all sectors.

Among the key sectors expected to drive this transformation is agriculture. The sector remains vital to the lives of millions of Tanzanians, particularly those living in rural areas. Because it directly affects livelihoods, food security and employment, agriculture has been identified as one of the main pillars for achieving the goals of Vision 2050.

Reforms in the sector are therefore viewed as an opportunity to strengthen the national economy while ensuring that development remains inclusive and benefits all groups in society.

The Deputy Executive Secretary for Trade and Innovation at the National Planning Commission (NPC), Dr Blandina Kilama, says agriculture holds significant opportunities for innovation, investment and economic growth. She explains that agriculture can no longer be treated simply as a traditional activity dependent on manual labour and seasonal rainfall.

Instead, it must be integrated with modern technology, innovation and business practices to increase productivity and add value to agricultural products. According to Dr Kilama, young people have an important role to play in driving reforms within the agricultural sector.

“Young people can use digital technologies to design modern systems for production, processing and marketing agricultural products,” she says.

Through digital platforms, farmers can access information about weather conditions, crop prices and market demand in different regions.

This allows them to make informed decisions on when to plant, harvest and sell their produce. Integrating technology into agriculture can therefore improve efficiency, expand market access and increase farmers’ incomes.

Dr Kilama also highlights agricultural processing as a key strategy for strengthening the sector under Vision 2050. The agricultural sector, which includes crops, livestock, fisheries and forestry, continues to play a major role in Tanzania’s economy. It contributes approximately 26.5 per cent to the national Gross Domestic Product, employs around 65 per cent of the workforce and generates about 30 per cent of export earnings.

Despite its importance, a large share of agricultural production is still sold as raw produce, limiting its potential value.

Vision 2050 aims to encourage farmers and entrepreneurs to invest in small processing industries that transform raw agricultural products into higher-value goods. Instead of selling unprocessed crops, farmers could produce processed foods, oils and other products for domestic and international markets.

Such initiatives would create employment opportunities, especially for young people, while increasing farmers’ earnings and strengthening the national economy. For many years, agriculture in Tanzania has depended largely on human labour and rainfall, leading to low productivity and limited incomes for many farmers.

Dr Kilama says this has been a major challenge in efforts to reduce poverty and improve agricultural performance. Vision 2050 therefore emphasises the transformation of agriculture from subsistence farming to a modern sector that uses improved seeds, irrigation systems, modern inputs and efficient market structures.

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These reforms aim to increase agricultural production, improve farmers’ incomes and make the sector a reliable source of employment and economic growth.

For many farmers, the proposed reforms could bring meaningful improvements to their daily lives. Ms Flaviana Francis, a small-scale farmer from Moshi, says that smallholder farmers have long worked hard but often struggle to achieve better living standards.

She notes that limited access to improved seeds, modern farming inputs and reliable markets has prevented many farmers from increasing production and earning stable incomes.

“Agricultural reforms that include smallholder farmers in modern production and marketing systems could significantly improve the lives of many citizens, especially farmers,” she says.

Ms Francis believes that education and training are essential to help farmers adopt modern farming practices.

“If farmers receive training on modern agriculture, technology and market opportunities, they will be able to increase production and gain greater benefits from their work,” she adds.

Women play a significant role in agricultural production, particularly in rural communities. However, many women still face limited access to resources such as land ownership, financial support and professional training. Ms Francis emphasises that development strategies under Vision 2050 should ensure women are fully included in agricultural development programmes.

Providing women with equal opportunities in agriculture would enable them to participate more effectively in economic activities and contribute to national development.

The Deputy Executive Secretary of the National Planning Commission responsible for Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr Sostenes Kewe, says the success of agricultural reforms will depend on effective monitoring and evaluation systems. Such systems are necessary to ensure that development programmes achieve their intended results.

“Effective monitoring helps the government and development partners identify successes and challenges in agricultural projects and make necessary adjustments,” he says.

Mr Kewe emphasises that efficient and transparent implementation of policies is essential for achieving the objectives of Vision 2050. According to Mr Kewe, inclusive development is one of the key principles guiding Vision 2050.

The vision aims to promote public participation in development while ensuring that different groups in society benefit from economic growth. He notes that development strategies must consider the needs of smallholder farmers, women, youth and people with disabilities.

“Challenges often arise when certain groups are excluded from development programmes. It is important to ensure that every citizen has the opportunity to participate in economic activities and benefit from national development,” he says.

Mr Kewe also highlights the importance of investing in farmer education and training. Farmers need access to reliable information about modern farming techniques, new technologies and available market opportunities. With improved knowledge and skills, farmers can adopt better methods that increase productivity and efficiency in their agricultural activities.

While farmers acknowledge the potential benefits of Vision 2050, they emphasise the importance of ensuring that its implementation leads to tangible improvements. Ms Tarsila Sisty, a farmer from Njombe, says the government should ensure that Vision 2050 brings real change by providing farmers with education, improved seeds and reliable markets.

“We saw that Vision 2025 did not significantly change our lives,” she says. “With Vision 2050, the government must ensure farmers receive proper education and the support they need.” She adds that addressing the challenges left unresolved in previous development plans will be essential for improving farmers’ livelihoods.

As Tanzania moves toward Vision 2050, agriculture remains central to the country’s long-term development strategy. By integrating technology, promoting innovation and supporting value addition, the sector has the potential to increase productivity, create employment and strengthen the national economy.

Ensuring inclusive participation from farmers, women and youth will also be critical in achieving sustainable development.

Through coordinated reforms and effective implementation of policies, agriculture can become a powerful engine for economic growth and improved livelihoods for Tanzanians.