• Tanzania has deployed 16 modern self‑propelled boom sprayers across five core cotton‑producing districts.

• Farmers report significant reductions in labour time and cost, potentially lifting productivity on larger farms.

• The initiative aligns with broader national efforts to modernize agriculture and position cotton as a regional economic pillar supported by long‑term production and value‑addition targets.

The Tanzania Cotton Board, supported by the government, has deployed 16 modern self‑propelled boom sprayers to enhance pest control and crop management in the 2025/26 season across five strategic cotton districts:  Meatu, Maswa, Kishapu, Igunga and Bariadi. The machines were distributed to farmers beginning in February 2026 as part of a push to modernize the cotton sub‑sector, increase efficiency, reduce labour costs and improve overall productivity.

The distribution and inauguration were shared by the Tanzania Cotton Board via its official Instagram page, where farmers and district agricultural officers expressed appreciation for the new technology. According to a release, the sprayers are intended to serve large farms planted using recommended agronomic practices such as row planting, ensuring effective coverage and correct pesticide application.

Farmers in Bariadi District, one of the principal cotton belts, said in an interview by the Tanzania cotton board that the new equipment is transforming field operations. “Years ago we used back‑pack blowers that took four days of exhausting work. The new machines make spraying much easier, reduce labour costs and cut down on time,” said a farmer from Mwamlapa Village interviewed during the rollout. Another farmer from Nyanguge Village said the modern sprayers allow large acreage to be treated quickly, significantly reducing fatigue and increasing the likelihood of higher yields.

Beyond immediate farm‑level benefits, the deployment is part of a broader government strategy to modernize Tanzania’s cotton sector and strengthen its role in the national economy. The country’s cotton industry is a cornerstone of rural livelihoods, supporting more than 500,000 smallholder farming households and providing income to an estimated 2 million people, according to industry data. Cotton remains among Tanzania’s top non‑food cash crops, contributing to export earnings and rural employment while supporting downstream textile value chains.

Recent production statistics illustrate both progress and room for growth. National cotton output fluctuated in recent seasons, reaching roughly 350,000 bales in 2024/25 and projected around 400,000 bales for 2025/26, according to USDA estimates, with yields still constrained by rainfall variability, limited mechanization and pest pressure. Tanzania’s average cotton yield — around 198 kg per hectare in 2025/26 — remains below potential levels where modern practices and inputs are widely adopted.

Policy research emphasizes cotton’s strategic importance beyond raw production. Government plans coupled with industry research suggest that increasing quality and yield could provide reliable feedstock for domestic textile manufacturing, helping advance broader industrialization objectives under national development frameworks. These include efforts to reduce reliance on raw exports, improve supply chains and attract investment into textile and value‑addition facilities.

By Cynthia Ebot Takang