The United States, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), has committed $83 million to enhance food security and trade in Tanzania. This investment will support nine Tanzanian companies in the private sector, aiming to increase agricultural productivity, improve nutrition, and expand market access for Tanzanian farmers and businesses.
This funding is part of the U.S.’s strategy to support Tanzania’s participation in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provides Tanzanian businesses with duty-free access to the U.S. market. By scaling up production, meeting international standards, and increasing exports, Tanzanian companies will be better positioned to compete on a global scale.
“Through this investment, we are addressing critical areas such as food security, nutrition, and trade, all of which are essential for Tanzania’s long-term economic stability. By partnering with the private sector and leveraging AGOA, we are helping Tanzanian companies compete on a global scale, bringing more prosperity to the nation,” Craig Hart, USAID/Tanzania Mission Director stated.
Tanzanian companies that will receive the $83 million investment
Here are the nine Tanzanian companies that stand to benefit from this $83 million investment:
- Silverlands Tanzania
Silverlands is an agricultural company established in 2013 with a focus on producing poultry products.
The company recently expanded its infrastructure, commissioning a state-of-the-art feed mill that can produce 40 metric tonnes of chicken feed per hour. With the USAID cash injection, Silverlands will expand its operations and improve export opportunities.
- Bakhresa Group
Beginning as a small restaurant in 1975, Bakhresa Group has grown into a major conglomerate with diverse interests ranging from agro-processing and grain milling to logistics and media. The U.S. investment will boost the company’s production capacity and enhance its export capabilities, further solidifying its presence in the global market.
- Mohamed Enterprises Tanzania Limited (MeTL)
Mohamed Enterprises Tanzania Limited (MeTL) is a family-owned conglomerate by Tanzanian tycoon Mohammed Dewji and his family. MeTL Group produces and trades agricultural, industrial, and consumer goods. It has operations in Tanzanaia and across Eastern and Southern Africa.
With the funding, MeTL will benefit from improved infrastructure and technology, boosting its agricultural output and food processing operations.
4. Tanga Fresh
Tanga Fresh is a dairy food company operating in Tanga. The company has a milk processing plant with a capacity of 50,000 litres a day and is now the main supplier of fresh milk products to Dar es Salaam.
The USAID cash injection is poised to enhance the company’s dairy production and processing capabilities, contributing to improved nutrition and food security in Tanzania.
5. Kilombero Sugar Company Limited
Kilombero Sugar is Tanzania’s largest sugar producer. KSCL is part of the Illovo Sugar Africa Group, Africa’s biggest sugar producer with operations in six African countries; including South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Eswatini, Zambia and Tanzania.
With 26,000 hectares of sugarcane estate, KSCL produces 126,000 tons of sugar annually. The investment will allow Kilombero Sugar to increase production and modernize its processing facilities, meeting the growing demand both locally and internationally.
6. Yara Tanzania
Yara Tanzania is committed to developing agriculture in the country. The company has commissioned a fertilizer terminal at the port of Dar Es Salaam, capable of handling over 500,000 metric tonnes annually. With USAID’s support, Yara will further commercialize smallholder farms and improve crop productivity.
7. Minjingu Mines & Fertilizer Ltd. (MMFL)
MMFL mines phosphate rock and further processes the rock into organic and blended fertilizers. It is the only phosphate mining and fertilizer manufacturing Company in East Africa which is resource-based and produces Compound blended fertilizers.
The USAID investment will help Minjingu scale up operations, supplying essential fertilizers and modern farming techniques to support Tanzania’s agriculture sector.
8. East Africa Seed Company
EASEED was established in 1972 with a commitment to provide quality seeds and services to the farming community around East Africa. The company has grown and expanded its operations into other Eastern, Southern, Central and West African Regions. So far it has supplied over 50 million African farmers with seeds, a figure that will soon increase after USAID’s investment.
The funding will help the company scale up its operations, improving the quality and availability of seeds, and ensuring better harvests and more resilient crops across Tanzania.
9. Export Trading Group (ETG)
ETG connects commodities sourced at the farm gate level to local and international markets. The USAID investment will enhance ETG’s trade operations, facilitating better access to regional and international markets, and increasing Tanzanian exports under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
