As climate change continues to alter farming conditions across Tanzania, farmers are increasingly battling new pests, invasive weeds and crop diseases that threaten productivity and food security.
In the Lake Zone, where agriculture remains a key source of livelihoods and economic activity, these challenges have become more visible in recent years, forcing farmers to search for more effective solutions to protect their crops.
Against this backdrop, Balton Tanzania Ltd has launched 10 new crop protection products designed to help farmers combat emerging agricultural threats and improve yields.
The products target major crops grown across the region, including vegetables, maize, coffee, cashew nuts, tomatoes, onions and beans, crops that support thousands of households and contribute significantly to regional food production.
The launch, held at the Nanenane Grounds in Mwanza, brought together agro-input distributors, agricultural stakeholders and dealers from Mwanza, Geita, Shinyanga, Mara, Simiyu, Tabora and Kigoma regions.
Speaking during the event, Balton Tanzania Managing Director Jacob Vorster said the new products have been developed in response to changing farming conditions and growing concerns over pest resistance.
He noted that rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns have created favourable conditions for the spread of destructive pests and weeds, increasing pressure on farmers to adopt modern crop protection technologies.
“These products are a major boost for farmers in the Lake Zone and across Tanzania,” said Mr Vorster. “They are manufactured using advanced technology that not only controls pests effectively but also helps prevent the development of resistance, which has become a growing challenge in agriculture.”
He added that the products are designed to tackle both insect infestations and invasive weeds that compete with crops for water, nutrients and sunlight, factors that can significantly reduce yields if left unmanaged.
According to Mr Vorster, all the products have been approved by the relevant regulatory authorities and are available through accredited agro-input dealers nationwide.
He urged farmers to purchase agricultural inputs from authorised outlets to ensure they receive genuine and high-quality products capable of delivering the desired results.
The launch comes at a time when Tanzania is intensifying efforts to modernise agriculture and increase productivity in the face of climate-related challenges.
Experts say climate change is not only affecting rainfall patterns but is also contributing to the emergence of pests and diseases in areas where they were previously uncommon.
Balton Tanzania Plant Science Specialist Chonya Wema said farmers need practical solutions that respond to these changing realities.
“We understand that climate change is creating new production challenges for farmers,” she said. “Many are dealing with pest outbreaks and invasive weeds that were not common before. We have developed these products to help farmers protect their crops and maintain productivity.”
She explained that the company has invested in research and field experience to develop products that respond to local farming conditions while ensuring safety and effectiveness.
“Our goal is to provide farmers with reliable solutions that help them achieve better harvests despite the challenges posed by climate change,” she added.
Ms Wema noted that Balton has also established a network of technical experts and agro-dealers across the country to ensure farmers receive both the products and the guidance needed for their proper application.
Agricultural authorities welcomed the launch, describing it as an important step towards strengthening farmers' resilience.
An Agriculture Officer from the Mwanza Regional Commissioner’s Office, Innocent Keya, said farmers in the Lake Zone have recently encountered pest infestations that were rarely seen in previous years.
He cited the growing presence of kantangaze pests in some farming areas as an example of the new challenges facing producers.
“Farmers are experiencing pests that were not a major problem in the past,” said Mr Keya. “The introduction of quality crop protection products provides an important solution that can help protect crops and improve agricultural productivity.”
He also called on agro-input dealers to ensure farmers have access to approved and effective products, while promoting responsible use to maximise benefits and protect the environment.
Agriculture contributes nearly a quarter of Tanzania's Gross Domestic Product and employs the majority of the country's workforce. As demand for food continues to rise and climate pressures intensify, experts argue that investment in improved technologies, quality inputs and farmer education will be critical to sustaining growth in the sector.
For many farmers in the Lake Zone, the launch of the new products represents more than the introduction of additional agricultural inputs.
It reflects a growing effort by private sector players to support farmers in adapting to a changing climate and protecting their livelihoods from increasingly complex agricultural risks.
With unpredictable weather patterns, emerging pests and declining productivity becoming common concerns, stakeholders say innovative crop protection solutions will play a vital role in securing future harvests and strengthening Tanzania’s food systems.
Balton Tanzania, which has supplied agricultural inputs for more than 25 years in Tanzania and several other African countries, believes the new products will help farmers increase yields, improve profitability and build greater resilience in an era of climate uncertainty.
