Expanding access to electricity and clean cooking energy remains central to efforts to improve rural livelihoods and support economic activities, with the Rural Energy Agency (REA) showcasing its projects at the national World Food Day celebrations in Tanga.
Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Prof Peter Msofe, commended the agency for its efforts to bring energy services closer to citizens, highlighting the importance of energy access in supporting economic development.
Prof Msofe made the remarks on October 13, 2026, when he visited REA’s exhibition pavilion at the World Food Day celebrations held at Usagara Grounds in Tanga City.
During the visit, he received briefings on the agency’s ongoing initiatives, including rural electrification and the promotion of clean cooking energy.
Expanding electricity access in rural areas can create opportunities for small businesses, improve the availability of essential services and support value addition in agriculture. Reliable energy can also help farmers and agro-processors reduce operating constraints, preserve produce and improve productivity.
The promotion of clean cooking energy, meanwhile, is intended to encourage households to adopt alternatives to traditional cooking fuels, with potential benefits for health, household welfare and the environment.
REA is using the celebrations to raise public awareness of its projects, services and opportunities in the rural energy sector, while highlighting the contribution of energy access to production, economic growth and improved living standards.
The agency has invited members of the public and other stakeholders attending the event to visit its pavilion to learn more about its initiatives.
The World Food Day celebrations provide an opportunity for institutions working in agriculture and related sectors to demonstrate how improved access to essential services, including energy, can support food production and rural economic development.