Tanzania has reaffirmed its commitment to modernise its tobacco industry and improve returns to farmers following high-level talks between the government and Japan Tobacco International (JTI).
The discussions, held on October 3, 2026, on the sidelines of the Al Alamein Africa Business Forum in El Alamein, Egypt, focused on improving production, value addition, technology and access to international markets.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Gerald Mweli, who represented Vice President Deogratius John Ndejembi, met JTI chief executive officer and representative director Takehiko Tsutsui to discuss the future of the sector and the role of the long-standing partnership between Tanzania and the tobacco company.
Mr Mweli said the government was particularly interested in ensuring that increased production translates into better and more sustainable returns for tobacco farmers.
“The focus is on sustaining production while ensuring profitable returns for tobacco farmers,” Mr Mweli said.
The talks also explored opportunities for JTI to support technological improvements in tobacco processing, an area seen as important to increasing the value derived from the crop before it reaches international markets.
The government and JTI also discussed market diversification and programmes aimed at ensuring farmers participate more fairly in the tobacco value chain.
The engagement comes as Tanzania seeks to move beyond reliance on raw agricultural exports by promoting value addition, technology adoption and stronger links between producers and markets.
For tobacco farmers, the effectiveness of such measures will depend on whether investments in processing, technology and markets translate into higher and more predictable incomes at farm level.
“The partnership between Tanzania and JTI remains important as we work towards modernising the tobacco sector, adding value and improving its competitiveness in global markets,” Mr Mweli said.
JTI is a subsidiary of Tanzania Cigarette Company Limited (TCC), giving the company an established position within Tanzania's tobacco industry.
The discussions are also in line with the government's broader agricultural policy, which places emphasis on strengthening farmers through extension services, contract farming, cooperatives, technology adoption and climate-smart agricultural practices.
The government is also seeking to strengthen regional and continental markets through the East African Community (EAC), Southern African Development Community (SADC) and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
For Tanzania's tobacco industry, greater integration into these markets could provide opportunities for diversification while reducing dependence on a limited number of export destinations.
The government has also identified value addition as a key part of its strategy to increase the economic benefits generated from agricultural commodities.
The meeting brought together officials from several government institutions, reflecting the economic importance of the tobacco industry beyond agriculture.
Those attending included Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry and Trade Aristides Mbwasi, Ambassador Thobias M. Makoba, Director of the Department of Strategy and Global Policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, and a representative of the Ministry of Finance.
The cross-government participation underscores the need for coordinated policies covering agricultural production, industrial processing, trade, investment and farmer incomes.
The talks with JTI come at a time when Tanzania is seeking to make its agricultural sector more commercially competitive by improving productivity, expanding markets and increasing the share of value retained within the country.
For tobacco producers, the key test will be whether modernisation and new market opportunities lead to improved farm-level returns while maintaining production and strengthening Tanzania's position in the global tobacco value chain.