The Tanzania Fertilizer Company (TFC) has announced a target to supply 400,000 tonnes of fertilizer in the 2025/26 financial year as part of efforts to meet rising national demand and improve productivity in the agriculture sector.
Of the total, 200,000 tonnes will be imported while the other half will be produced locally through a new blending facility. Once fully operational, the facility will have the capacity to produce 400,000 tonnes annually, allowing TFC to deliver customized fertilizers suitable for different soils and crops.
TFC’s Director General, Mr Samuel Mshote, made the announcement in Dar es Salaam during the company’s annual performance review and planning meeting. The meeting also marked the end of the 2024/25 financial year and included a farewell for retiring staff.
According to Mr Mshote, the company also plans to supply 50,000 tonnes of agricultural lime and procure five heavy-duty trucks to deliver fertilizers to hard-to-reach rural areas.
He said TFC has improved its digital systems to trace fertilizers from port arrival to distribution points, and even track payment records.
These plans come at a time when fertilizer demand in Tanzania is rising sharply. In 2024/25, national demand stood at 800,000 tonnes. TFC projects this figure could nearly double to 1.5 million tonnes in 2025/26, reflecting the government’s push to increase crop yields and promote food security.
Despite this growth, fertilizer use in Tanzania remains low. Mr Mshote said farmers currently use an average of 22 kilograms per hectare, well below the Sub-Saharan African average of 50 kilograms and far from the 146 kilograms per hectare seen in developed countries.
In 2024/25, TFC distributed over 75 percent of the fertilizers targeted for farmers. This included 31,500 tonnes of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP), 30,000 tonnes of Urea, and 15,000 tonnes of Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN).
TFC's capital now stands at TZS 116 billion, paying dividend to the Office of Treasury Registrar.
TFC is also collaborating with partners like Sea Energy Group to scale up deliveries to 200,000 tonnes in the near future.
In the long term, the company expects to benefit from a new fertilizer plant to be built in Tabora. The $92 million project will be developed in partnership with United Capital Fertilizer Zambia Company Ltd and will produce fertilizers for tobacco farming.
A total of 2,750 acres has already been secured and a feasibility study is ongoing.
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Mr. Mshote emphasised the importance of soil testing in guiding fertilizer use, saying TFC is working closely with research institutions like TARI to ensure fertilizers respond to the needs of specific regions.
He said targeted application is necessary to improve yields while protecting the environment.