By Our Reporter
Tanzania is seeking to strengthen food security through increased agricultural productivity, irrigation investment and agro-processing, with Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba warning that reliable food supplies are critical to national security and economic stability.
Dr Nchemba said a stable supply of food and adequate nutrition would help protect livelihoods and enable the government to manage other economic challenges, particularly amid global uncertainties.
“Food security in Tanzania is a matter of national security. When we have stability in food availability and nutrition, we are in a safer position to manage other economic indicators,” he said.
The Prime Minister made the remarks on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, while addressing journalists at the Iowa Events Centre in Des Moines, the United States, on the sidelines of the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue.
He was representing President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the international gathering, which brings together stakeholders to discuss agricultural development and global food security.
Drawing on his experience leading the agriculture, livestock and fisheries portfolios, as well as the Finance ministry, Dr Nchemba said he had witnessed the close relationship between agricultural production and economic stability.
He attributed part of Tanzania’s resilience to recent global economic challenges to the stability of its food production, arguing that sustained investment in agriculture was essential to protecting the economy from external shocks.
However, he said achieving lasting food security required more than increasing production. It also depended on scientific innovation, climate-resilient farming, effective policies and stronger cooperation between the government, private sector and research institutions.
The government plans to transform the agricultural and food systems by raising productivity, strengthening value chains, expanding agro-processing and improving transport and distribution networks.
Dr Nchemba said the changes were intended to ensure that more value generated from agricultural products remained in Tanzania, while farmers gained better economic opportunities and young people benefited from employment.
The emphasis on processing and value addition could help farmers move beyond selling raw produce, allowing more economic benefits to be generated locally.
The Prime Minister also identified access to land and capital, alongside negative perceptions of farming, as major obstacles to attracting young people into agriculture.
He said the government was working to change the perception of farming from subsistence activity to a commercially viable enterprise capable of generating income and improving living standards.
“We have started building a new mindset among young people that agriculture is a business like any other. It is respectable work that can enable someone to earn a good income and build a better life,” he said.
Through the Building a Better Tomorrow (BBT) programme, the government is preparing land for agricultural production and helping young people participate in farming based on opportunities available in their respective areas.
Some young people are being directed towards the production of quality seeds, with the aim of increasing domestic supply and reducing reliance on imports.
Dr Nchemba also invited investors to partner with Tanzania in developing irrigation infrastructure, saying the country had substantial water resources and large areas suitable for agriculture that remained underdeveloped.
He said water infrastructure should be planned to support not only households and other essential services but also productive sectors, particularly agriculture and livestock keeping.
“This means water infrastructure should not be limited to domestic use or other services alone, but should also support productive economic activities, including agriculture and livestock farming,” he said.
Expanding irrigation would give farmers greater capacity to produce beyond dependence on rainfall, potentially improving yields and strengthening the reliability of food supplies as climate change places increasing pressure on agricultural systems.
The appeal for investment also highlights the importance of linking water development with agricultural production so that available resources can generate economic value, support farmers and improve food availability.
Dr Nchemba said Tanzania would continue working with international partners to combat hunger, while urging scientists, researchers and innovators, particularly young people, to develop solutions that improve agricultural productivity, food security and nutrition.
He was accompanied by Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Ngwaru Maghembe, Deputy Minister for Agriculture David Silinde, Tanzania’s Ambassador to the United States Elsie Kanza and other government officials.