By Alfred Zacharia
The District Commissioner of Iringa, Kheri James, on Friday commended Silverland Tanzania for its high-impact investment in the region’s livestock sector, calling the venture a model for sustainable agribusiness and rural economic development.
Silverland, located in Ihemi within Kiponzelo Division, specializes in the production of day-old chicks and high-quality animal feed tailored for small-scale and commercial poultry farmers.
The facility, part of a growing private sector footprint in Tanzania’s southern highlands, has been credited with boosting local employment, supporting smallholder farmers, and contributing to government revenue through formalized trade.
During a site visit as part of his ongoing tour of key private sector projects, Commissioner James said the investment exemplifies the kind of public-private synergy the government is seeking to promote under its industrialization agenda.
“This is a transformative investment. It is generating income for our people, creating decent jobs, and delivering affordable poultry products to households across the region,” James said in a briefing to reporters after touring the facility.
“Most importantly, it reflects the kind of investor-community relationship that fosters inclusive development,” he said.
The commissioner highlighted Silverland’s role in offering technical training to local farmers and supporting backward linkages in the livestock value chain.
He added that the government remains committed to improving the ease of doing business and will take swift action against any bureaucratic or policy obstacles that hinder private sector growth.
“This government will not tolerate inefficiencies that discourage investment. We are determined to ensure that Iringa remains an attractive destination for investors in agribusiness and beyond,” he said.
Tanzania has in recent years ramped up efforts to attract domestic and foreign investment in agriculture and agro-processing as part of a broader push to diversify its economy and reduce reliance on raw commodity exports.
The commissioner’s visit comes as policymakers and development partners increasingly view the livestock and poultry sectors as strategic to addressing food security, unemployment, and rural poverty.
Silverland’s operations in Iringa are seen as an example of scalable, market-driven solutions that align with national development goals.
No financial details of Silverland’s total investment in Iringa were disclosed, but the company is believed to be one of the largest private suppliers of day-old chicks and animal feed in southern Tanzania.