By Alfred Zacharia
Tanzania is
committed to increasing the contribution of the agriculture sector to the
National Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the country’s economy. To ensure this
goal is achieved, various efforts have been undertaken, including the annual
increase in the agriculture budget to strengthen key areas critical for the
sector.
One of
these critical areas is the enhancement of high-quality fertilizers, which are
considered fundamental to boosting agricultural production and revenue. The
responsibility for ensuring the availability of quality fertilizers tailored to
modern agriculture needs has been entrusted to the Tanzania Fertilizer Company
(TFC).
TFC was
established in 1968, under the Companies Act, which is now known as the
Companies Act of 2002. In 1972, the government inaugurated a factory in Tanga
to produce 105,000 tons of fertilizers annually, including ‘Tri-Super Phosphate
(TSP)’, ‘Single Super Phosphate (SSP)’, and NPK mixed fertilizers, which was
operated by TFC.
In 1980,
the management of the company was transferred to the Chemical Industries
Development Corporation (NCI). Due to machinery issues, in April 1991,
fertilizer production activities were halted, and the government decided to
close the factory, with employees being laid off through Government Notice No.
6 of 1996.
TFC's
Collaboration with the Government
TFC's
Managing Director, Samuel Mshote, said the company is dedicated to advancing
the agriculture sector and ensuring Tanzania produces high-quality fertilizers.
“TFC,
under the Ministry of Agriculture, is primarily focused on distributing
high-quality subsidized fertilizers to farmers nationwide on time to enable
them to produce abundant crops,” he said.
The
Director noted that TFC collaborates with cooperative unions that form farmer
groups in their areas by appointing them as agents for distributing subsidized
fertilizers.
Plans to Reach Farmers
Mshote
mentioned that TFC works closely with agricultural officers in regional
authorities, councils, and extension officers. The company also compiles data
on fertilizer needs for each season from these officers and distributes
fertilizers to farmers based on the reported needs.
For the
2024/2025 fiscal year, TFC plans to build a fertilizer blending factory
tailored to soil health to enable production and packaging of fertilizers. He
emphasized that these fertilizers will be distributed to farmers, and efforts
are underway to expand the fertilizer distribution network to reach more
farmers.
“TFC has
seven regions, and in these regions, there are experts whose responsibilities
include providing education to small-scale farmers, advice, and proper
fertilizer usage practices,” the Director added.
The goal
is to increase the availability of subsidized fertilizers from 586,604 tons to
800,000 tons by 2025. In celebrating Farmers’ Day (Nanenane), TFC calls on all
farmers to use quality fertilizers to increase food and cash crop production,
achieve food security, better nutrition, and self-sufficiency at all times.
Government Strategy for 2024/2025
Presenting
the revenue and expenditure estimates for the 2024/2025 fiscal year in
Parliament, Agriculture Minister Hussein Bashe stated that his ministry,
through TFC, will continue to monitor and ensure the quality of fertilizers
produced and imported into the country.
He said
that in the 2024/2025 fiscal year, the government will continue to provide
fertilizer and pesticide subsidies through a subsidy program for all crops.
Therefore, through TFRA, the government will facilitate the importation of
1,086,115 tons of fertilizer and distribute it to farmers under the subsidy
program, which will continue until 2025/2026. The government will also complete
essential criteria in the farmer registration system and register farmers,
importers, and fertilizer distributors in an electronic system to strengthen
fertilizer distribution in the country.
“In the
2024/2025 fiscal year, TFC will purchase 100,000 tons of fertilizer and
distribute it to farmers under the subsidy program. Additionally, the
government will build a fertilizer blending plant (Bulk Blending Facilities) in
collaboration with Morocco’s OCP Group Africa, which will blend fertilizers
according to soil health and is expected to have the capacity to blend 120 tons
of fertilizer per hour,” he said.
He also
mentioned that the government will purchase five trucks, each capable of
carrying 15 tons, to facilitate fertilizer distribution and refurbish seven
warehouses with a total capacity of 100,000 tons in Mwanza, Tabora, Ruvuma,
Rukwa, Njombe, Mbeya, and Mtwara regions for fertilizer storage.
Minister
Bashe stated that TFC will enter into an agreement with Tanzania Biotech
Products Limited (TBPL), a subsidiary of the National Development Corporation
(NDC), to begin producing and distributing chemical-free biofertilizers in
collaboration with experts from Cuba.
He also
noted that TFC will establish a digital system (ICT) in partnership with the
Government E-Services Agency to manage and verify fertilizer and pesticide
sales at sales points and agencies. This system will be installed in warehouses
and fertilizer sales centers.
“To ensure proper collection of fertilizer sales, the Ministry will enable TFC to acquire 40 Point of Sale (POS) systems to be distributed across TFC sales centers to facilitate revenue collection and monitoring of proceeds,” he concluded.