The Tanzania Dairy Board (TDB) has identified opportunities across the country’s dairy value chain, urging investors and industry players to focus on production, milk collection, processing and value addition to unlock the sector’s economic potential.
The board made the call on Thursday, September 3, 2026, during a session held as part of the Food, Livestock and Poultry Exhibition for the Future 2026 at the Julius Nyerere Convention Centre, Sabasaba grounds in Dar es Salaam.
Acting Head of Planning at TDB, Cletus Shengena, who represented the board’s Registrar, Prof George Msalya, presented a paper titled “The State of Tanzania’s Dairy Industry,” outlining the current position of the sector and areas with potential for investment.
The presentation highlighted opportunities along the dairy value chain, including milk production and collection, processing, value addition and the marketing of dairy products.
Mr Shengena said stronger cooperation among stakeholders would be essential if Tanzania is to overcome challenges in the sector and translate its potential into higher production and better returns for farmers and businesses.
He also pointed to investment, innovation and technology as important drivers for improving productivity and making the industry more competitive.
The focus on value addition is particularly significant for Tanzania, where expanding local processing could help farmers access more reliable markets while creating opportunities for businesses to develop a wider range of dairy products.
For investors, the opportunities extend beyond dairy farming to infrastructure and services supporting the industry, including milk collection, cold-chain systems, processing facilities and distribution networks.
TDB’s participation in the exhibition is part of its mandate to promote the development of the dairy industry through stakeholder engagement, investment promotion and public education.
The board said a stronger dairy industry would not only support food and nutrition security but also increase incomes for livestock keepers and contribute to economic growth.
The exhibition has brought together stakeholders to share information, technologies and experience aimed at improving the productivity and commercial viability of Tanzania’s food and livestock sectors.