Sisal processing handover to cooperatives in Tanga

Smallholder sisal farmers in the Tanga region are expected to increase production and reduce crop loss following a shift in processing management. Agricultural Marketing Co-operative Societies (AMCOS) have begun taking over the operation of small-scale sisal processing plants.

This transition follows an initial handover between the Tanzania Sisal Board (TSB) and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). Under this new arrangement, AMCOS will manage processing activities under the supervision of the TSB. The move aims to address long-standing shortages of processing machinery, which previously caused harvested sisal to dry out and spoil before reaching the market.

The initiative aligns with directives issued by President Samia Suluhu Hassan on September 29, 2025, to provide farmers with the necessary machinery to manage processing independently. Local leaders, including Shadrack Lugendo of the Korogwe district AMCOS chairpersons, noted that the new system allows farmers to become integral parts of the production and processing chain rather than relying solely on external operators.