Tanzania agricultural and land management initiatives

Tanzanian officials and stakeholders are advocating for structural improvements in agriculture and land management to ensure long-term productivity and environmental resilience.

In the southern regions of Ruvuma, Lindi, and Mtwara, regional leadership has called for increased cooperation and the adoption of modern tools, such as tractors, to modernize farming. While the cashew nut sector has seen significant success, experts noted a decline in the percentage of the population engaged in farming due to poor project management, unpredictable weather, and lack of market information. There are also concerns regarding potential production shortfalls in 2026 caused by a shortage of high-quality sesame seeds.

Addressing environmental challenges, Tanzania’s Minister of State in the Vice President's Office, Hamad Masauni, has consistently urged the international community at the UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, to increase funding and technology transfers to combat land degradation, desertification, and drought. Masauni identified deforestation, agricultural expansion, and unsustainable land use as primary drivers of degradation, emphasizing the need to protect water sources and grazing lands.

To mitigate risks to food security and biodiversity, the government is implementing the National Programme to Combat Desertification and Drought (2025–2030). Key initiatives include participatory land-use planning, restoring degraded grazing areas, improving water infrastructure, and deploying drought early-warning systems. With approximately 60.6 percent of the 8.97 million farming households engaged in livestock keeping, the government is also promoting public-private partnerships to accelerate land restoration and climate awareness.