More than 288,000 farmers in Ruvuma Region have bought over 291,917 metric tonnes of subsidized fertilizer through a government program worth TZS 105 billion.
The program aims to reduce farming costs and increase the production of key crops like coffee and avocado.
This was revealed during a three-day visit by the Tanzania Fertilizer Regulatory Authority (TFRA) to the Southern Highlands started on May 27, 2025.
During the visit, Dr. Anthony Diallo, the TFRA Board Chairperson, advised local government trade officers to help increase the number of fertilizer agents in their areas.
He said this would help farmers get fertilizer closer to their farms.
“Many farmers still travel long distances to buy fertilizer. We want to bring the service closer to them,” said Dr. Diallo when he met Ruvuma Regional Administrative Secretary, Ms. Mary Makondo.
Dr. Diallo also asked the region to support the use of soil scanners. These tools help test soil health so that farmers can know which type of fertilizer their soil needs. He said this would help farmers avoid losses caused by using the wrong type of fertilizer.
Ms. Makondo welcomed the advice. She said her office will use regional and district trade officers to encourage more business people to open input shops near farming areas.
She also gave an update on the region’s progress in the fertilizer subsidy program. Over the past three years, Ruvuma aimed to register 429,991 farmers.
So far, 418,293 farmers have been registered, and 288,212 of them have received fertilizer at subsidized prices.
The fertilizer, which the farmers bought through the program, was worth TSh 105 billion in government subsidies.
Ms. Makondo added that the region continues to help farmers register in the national system for agricultural inputs. She said these efforts are part of making sure that fertilizer and other inputs reach farmers on time and at an affordable price.
The TFRA’s visit to the Southern Highlands focuses on checking how the fertilizer subsidy program is working, especially for coffee and avocado growers. The visit also aims to find challenges and look for ways to solve them.
Dr. Diallo said working together with local councils and business people will help improve the delivery of farm inputs in rural areas. This will help farmers produce more and improve their income.
