The Government of Tanzania, through the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, in collaboration with the Tanzania Dairy Board, the Tanga Regional Commissioner’s Office and the Tanga Dairy Cooperative Union (TDCU), is intensifying efforts to resolve challenges facing the Tanga milk processing plant, Tanga Fresh, which has the capacity to process up to 120,000 litres of milk per day.
The update was presented on April 13, 2026 in the National Assembly in Dodoma by the Deputy Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Ng’wasi Kamani, while responding to a question from the Member of Parliament for Korogwe Rural Constituency, Timotheo Paul Mnzava.
The MP sought clarification on the government’s plan to ensure dairy farmers in Korogwe Rural and the wider Tanga Region have stable markets and fair milk prices.
Deputy Minister Kamani told Parliament that Tanga Fresh remains the main and most important buyer of milk produced in Tanga Region and surrounding areas.
She said the factory plays a central role in supporting thousands of smallholder dairy farmers by providing a reliable market for their produce.
However, she noted that the factory is currently facing operational challenges, including limited working capital and high operating costs, which have affected its ability to fully absorb all milk supplied by farmers on a consistent basis.
She assured Parliament that the Ministry has already started constructive discussions with the factory management, financial institutions, and key stakeholders to identify sustainable solutions. The aim is to strengthen the dairy value chain and ensure farmers continue to have a dependable market for their milk.
Deputy Minister Kamani emphasized that the government recognizes the importance of the dairy sector in improving rural livelihoods, particularly in Tanga Region where livestock keeping is a key economic activity.
She said addressing the challenges facing Tanga Fresh will help stabilize milk prices and increase income for thousands of households.
She further highlighted that the government is implementing a 10-year Dairy Sector Transformation Programme and Climate Change Adaptation Project (C-SDTP), covering 13 regions across the country, including eight in mainland Tanzania and five in Zanzibar.
The programme aims to modernize the dairy sector, improve productivity, and expand reliable market systems for farmers.
The initiative also focuses on strengthening dairy cooperatives such as Tanga Dairy Cooperative Union (TDCU), enabling farmers to improve milk quality, access training, and negotiate better prices in the market.
Members of Parliament welcomed the government’s efforts, noting that the dairy industry remains a key pillar of rural development and employment in Tanga Region.
They stressed that timely intervention is essential to protect farmers from market instability and production losses.
The ongoing engagement between the government, processors, cooperatives, and financial institutions is expected to deliver lasting solutions that will stabilize operations at Tanga Fresh and ensure dairy farmers in Korogwe Rural and surrounding areas continue to benefit from a fair and reliable market.
