Tanzania’s farmers and livestock keepers have been credited with helping shield the country from global economic shocks by sustaining food production and supporting domestic food security.
Livestock and Fisheries Minister Ambassador Dr Bashiru Ally Kakurwa said continued production of crops and livestock had helped Tanzania maintain economic stability amid global economic disruptions and rising uncertainties.
He made the remarks on September 29, 2026, when opening the National Smallholder Farmers Conference and the 31st General Assembly of the Mtandao wa Vikundi vya Wakulima Tanzania (MVIWATA) in Morogoro.
Ambassador Kakurwa said farmers and livestock keepers were a critical part of the country’s food system, but their contribution could increase if longstanding challenges facing smallholder producers were addressed.
He identified land security, agroecological farming practices and access to reliable markets as some of the issues requiring greater attention if Tanzania is to strengthen food self-sufficiency.
“The country is proud of farmers and livestock keepers who continue to produce enough food and contribute to food security,” he said.
The minister also cautioned farmers and livestock keepers against resolving disputes through violence, saying conflicts between the two groups had in some cases resulted in injuries and deaths.
He urged MVIWATA to work with relevant authorities to ensure farmers receive accurate information on El Niño-related weather conditions and how to prepare for them.
The move, he said, would help counter misinformation that can create unnecessary fear among farmers and livestock keepers and affect decisions on farming and livestock activities.
MVIWATA outgoing chairman Apollo Chamwela asked the government and other stakeholders to establish financing arrangements that would enable smallholder farmers to acquire dairy cattle.
He said access to dairy cows could increase household incomes, milk production and the availability of manure for crop farming, linking livestock production directly to agricultural productivity and food security.
Responding to the proposal, Ambassador Kakurwa said the government would engage banks and dairy processing companies involved in the “Kopa Ng’ombe Lipa Maziwa” scheme to explore ways of expanding dairy cattle financing.
The minister said such arrangements could allow more smallholder farmers to access dairy cattle while increasing milk production and the supply of manure that can be used to improve crop production.
The farmers also presented other challenges requiring government intervention, with Ambassador Kakurwa promising to forward their concerns to the relevant authorities for action.
The three-day conference, which runs from September 29 to October 1, brings together smallholder farmers and other stakeholders to discuss challenges affecting agricultural production, markets, land access and rural livelihoods.
The meeting also marks MVIWATA’s 33 years since its establishment in 1993. The organisation was formally registered in 1995 and has continued to hold annual general meetings.