The Mbeya District Council is set to harvest 15,000 tonnes of wheat in the upcoming farming season five times more than the 3,000 tonnes produced last season thanks to increased government efforts and support from the Agricultural Seed Agency (ASA).
Speaking during the Nane Nane agricultural exhibition taking place at the John Mwakangale grounds in Mbeya, the Council’s Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Officer, Gidion Mapunda, said wheat has emerged as one of the most promising investment crops in the area due to its dual role as both a food and commercial crop.
According to Mapunda, the decision to scale up wheat production was largely influenced by the global wheat crisis caused by the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, which erupted over three years ago. The conflict disrupted global supply chains, leading to significant shortages and price surges.
“Russia and Ukraine jointly contribute about 30 percent of the global wheat supply,” he noted.
“At the height of the crisis, the head of the World Food Programme, David Beasley, warned that the war was severely affecting wheat markets, especially in developing countries like Tanzania.”he added
In response, Mbeya District Council launched an aggressive campaign to promote wheat farming and has since expanded cultivation to nearly all wards in the district.
“Previously, a kilogram of wheat would fetch TSh 8,000. Today, that figure has risen to between TSh 20,000 and 22,000,” Mapunda said.
“This is an economic crop. Its cultivation is relatively simple, requiring minimal preparation and pesticides.”he added
He further explained that the wheat value chain in Mbeya is being strengthened through investment in industries that use wheat and barley as raw materials, including breweries, bread factories, and animal feed producers.
“The demand is there. All we need now is for more farmers to join the initiative and for investors to support post-harvest infrastructure,” he said.
The council’s strategic push toward wheat production is not only meant to reduce dependency on imports but also to ensure food security and open up new revenue streams for local farmers.