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These 3 Entrepreneurs are Revolutionizing Agriculture in Tanzania

July 15, 2025

These 3 Entrepreneurs are Revolutionizing Agriculture in Tanzania

In recent years, Tanzania has witnessed a dramatic increase in official support—agricultural budget allocations have surged from TZS 294 billion in 2021/22 to approximately TZS 1.25 trillion in 2024/25, marking a more than 300% boost over four years.

This injection of funding has translated into impressive gains on the ground: food crop production jumped from about 17.1 million tonnes in 2021/22 to nearly 22.8 million tonnes in 2023/24 (a 33% rise), maize output alone nearly doubled to 12.3 million tonnes, and self‑sufficiency reached around 128 percent.

With these favorable currents, innovative Tanzanian entrepreneurs are stepping in, leveraging technology, sustainable practices, and market linkages to transform agriculture from the ground up.

In this article, we’ll spotlight 3 Tanzanian entrepreneurs revolutionizing agriculture in Tanzania for a more sustainable, and tech‑driven future for farmers.

3 Tanzanian Entrepreneurs Revolutionizing Agriculture in Tanzania

1. Fahad Awadh

Tanzania is one of the world’s major cashew producers. But until recently, almost all its crop was shipped abroad unprocessed, meaning farmers missed out on value. Only about 10% of Tanzania’s cashews were ever processed domestically.

Recognizing this gap, In 2015, Fahad Awadh founded YYTZ Agro-Processing in Zanzibar to do the work at home. Fahad, who had studied abroad, modeled his factory on efficient plants in Vietnam (which handles over 70% of the world’s cashews).

He invested heavily in machinery with cameras and optics that automatically sort, shell, peel, and roast the nuts. Under his leadership, the plant uses mechanization inspired by Asian mills, which lets it process nuts far faster than manual methods.

Investing in modern processing technology

Fahad financed this high-tech factory partly with a grant from the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund. His assembly line can handle thousands of cashews per hour: cameras and lasers sort the nuts by color and size, machines crack the shells, and automated ovens roast them.

This modern setup brings Tanzanian cashew processing “as professionally as those in Vietnam or India,” Fahad notes. The efficiency is critical for competing in export markets. Before YYTZ, Tanzania processed less than 10% of its own raw crop; Fahad’s factory is raising that percentage significantly.

Once processed, YYTZ turns the kernels into value-added snacks. The company seasons the cashews with local spices – for instance, sprinkling Zanzibar sea salt, tamarind, pepper or coconut – to create unique Tanzanian flavors.

These seasoned nuts are packaged under the brand “More than Cashews,” in green-and-turquoise bags symbolizing the fertile land and the Indian Ocean.

Thanks to the factory, these branded snacks now appear in supermarkets across East Africa and are even exported to Europe and North America. By keeping processing and packaging in Africa, Fahad ensures more of the profit stays in Tanzanian hands rather than flowing out with raw exports.

He also works with local women’s cooperatives to buy semi-processed nuts and pays farmers roughly 1.5–2× what they would earn selling raw kernels.

2. David Runge

Fruit like mangoes and pineapples grow easily in Tanzania’s climate, but apples? Not usually – they prefer cooler winters. Tamu Tamu Tanzania is changing that assumption.

German entrepreneur David Runge noticed that East African consumers loved apples and apple juice, yet nearly all apples in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda were imported at high prices.

Runge observed street vendors and shops charging around $0.50 per apple – a lot in local terms. In 2016, he partnered with two local entrepreneurs to start what became the region’s first commercial apple orchard and nursery.

The farm, in Tanzania’s western highlands, invests heavily in research to grow varieties suited to its climate.

Breeding apples for the tropics

The key was adapting the crop. Tamu Tamu’s founders tested many apple strains over several years. They now cultivate select dwarf trees that can produce in mild conditions, planted on higher ground to get cooler nights.

They train farmers in pruning, shade management, and careful irrigation. Often, smallholders start with a few dozen trees to “test” the technique, then scale up if the harvests succeed. This gradual approach lets farmers minimize risk.

Over time, the orchard has proved its concept: what once seemed impossible – apples in the tropics – is now a working farm. Tamu Tamu also sells apple saplings to local growers, establishing a local supply chain.

Those farmers can sell their ripe apples back to Tamu Tamu for processing or sale. This partnership was unimaginable before: now it’s growing Tanzania’s apple industry from the ground up.

3. Elizabeth Swai

Tanzania’s diet relies heavily on chicken and eggs, but small-scale poultry farmers often struggle with disease, poor feed, and unstable markets. Entrepreneur Elizabeth Swai tackled these issues with an inventive franchise approach.

After working for the United Nations, Swai took early retirement in 2007 and poured her savings into poultry. She founded AKM Glitters (named for the initials of its founders) not to farm chickens herself, but to empower dozens of others to do so profitably.

Each AKM “brooder enterprise” kit provides a turnkey chicken business. It includes day-old chicks (of the durable Kuroiler breed, known for 160–200 eggs per bird per year), along with quality feed, vaccines, drinkers, feeders and detailed training materials.

A farmer simply needs a small yard and commitment – no large coop or equipment purchase is required. AKM Glitters coaches and supports every franchisee so the chicks stay healthy.

Over 500 Tanzanians are now part of the AKM franchise system, effectively creating a new class of rural poultry micro-entrepreneurs.

Empowering smallholders through the AKM model

The brilliance of AKM’s model is that it removes entry barriers. Many Tanzanian farmers lack capital for incubators or bulk feed, but AKM solves this at scale. The company even set up its own feed mill to grind local maize, soy, and rice into poultry feed.

By sourcing ingredients from nearby farms, AKM also boosts the local crop sector. Franchisees don’t need experience; AKM provides ongoing technical support and veterinary guidance.

Farmers benefit from bulk purchasing and training, which drives down their costs and raises production. In return, they share a modest portion of profits with AKM, ensuring both sides gain.

The result is a community of skilled chicken growers who might never have managed a profitable flock on their own, now earning reliable incomes from what is essentially a turnkey poultry business.

Conclusion

These Tanzanian entrepreneurs are proving that agriculture is no longer just about tradition—it’s about innovation, resilience, and unlocking the full potential of the nation’s rich natural resources.

By embracing technology and sustainable practices, they are not only transforming farming but also inspiring a new generation to see agriculture as a path to prosperity.

As Tanzania continues to invest in the sector, stories like theirs remind us that the future of African agriculture is bright, bold, and driven by homegrown solutions.

If you’re inspired by these stories, consider supporting agriculture in Tanzania Buy locally processed African foods (like Tanzanian-flavored cashews or East African fruit juices) and look for “Made in Africa” products.

FAQ

Why is agriculture important to Tanzania’s economy?

Agriculture is the backbone of Tanzania’s economy, contributing about 26-27% of GDP and employing approximately 65% of the population. It provides livelihoods for the majority of rural households and is vital for food security, exports, and raw materials for industries.

What are the major crops grown in Tanzania?

Tanzania produces a variety of crops. Key food crops include maize, rice, cassava, bananas, and beans. Major cash crops are coffee, tea, cashew nuts, cotton, tobacco, sisal, and cloves.

How much land is used for agriculture in Tanzania?

About 44 million hectares (nearly half of the country’s total land area) is classified as arable land. However, less than 25% of this arable land is currently cultivated.

What challenges does Tanzania’s agriculture sector face?

The sector faces challenges such as low productivity, reliance on rain-fed farming, poor access to markets, limited use of modern farming techniques, post-harvest losses, and effects of climate change like droughts and floods.

Are there any government initiatives supporting agriculture?

Yes. The Tanzanian government has increased its agricultural budget significantly in recent years and launched programs like Agenda 10/30, aiming to transform agriculture into a modern, commercial sector by 2030.

What opportunities exist for investors in Tanzania’s agriculture sector?

There are vast opportunities in agribusiness including mechanization, agro-processing, export-oriented farming, cold storage facilities, and input supply (seeds, fertilizers, and machinery).

What is Tanzania doing to address food security?

Through programs like Kilimo Kwanza (Agriculture First) and increased funding, Tanzania has improved food self-sufficiency to over 120% in recent years, ensuring surplus production of staple foods.

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