The Tanzania Fertilizer Regulatory Authority (TFRA) has marked World Fertilizer Day 2025 by showcasing how proper fertilizer use is transforming farming productivity and encouraging youth to join agriculture.
Speaking at Ujindile Village in Igosi Ward, Njombe Region, TFRA Executive Director Joel Laurent urged farmers to update their farm information in the national registration system.
This allows authorities to distribute fertilizers based on actual farm needs, ensuring timely delivery where it matters most.
“Our priority is to make fertilizers accessible close to farmers’ fields,” Laurent said. “We have increased allocations for crops such as potatoes and are seeing more youth embracing agriculture after witnessing improved yields.”
The event also provided a platform for farmers, experts, producers, and importers to exchange experiences and discuss strategies for better crop productivity.
Laurent stressed the importance of soil testing to determine the right fertilizer types and quantities for each crop.
Local fertilizer production has grown significantly. The Minjingu factory increased output from 100,000 tonnes in 2023 to 250,000 tonnes in 2025, while Itracom in Dodoma expanded from 200,000 tonnes to 1 million tonnes annually, ensuring farmers have timely and affordable access.
Fertilizer use in Tanzania has risen sharply, from 365,000 tonnes in 2022/23 to 974,000 tonnes in 2024/25, with projections of 1.1 million tonnes in 2025/26.
The government plans to ensure every ward has at least one fertilizer distributor, improving access for smallholder farmers.
Laurent linked proper fertilizer use to the government’s Agenda 10/30: ‘Agriculture is Business’, noting that higher productivity and commercial farming will boost household incomes and raise agriculture’s contribution to the national economy to 10 percent by 2030.
Farmers are already seeing results. Heri Chengula, an avocado farmer, said subsidized fertilizers increased his maize yield from one bag to 15 bags per acre.
Mwalongo, another farmer, highlighted that learning proper fertilizer use has improved harvests and efficiency.
This year’s celebrations reached farmers in Njombe, Mbeya, Tanga, Rukwa, Manyara, and Kagera regions, under the nationwide campaign “Mali Shambani, Silaha Mbolea” (Farm Wealth, Fertilizer is the Weapon), aimed at educating farmers on sustainable fertilizer use and modern farming practices.