• Government allocates 25,000 hectares to Pan Tanzania Agriculture Development

• Project includes a 809-hectare export processing zone and multiple factories

• Modern farms and 10,000 smallholders will supply raw materials for processing

In Tanzania, the Ministry of Planning and Investment announced on November 29 that it has allocated a 25,000-hectare estate to the private company Pan Tanzania Agriculture Development in the Kilwa district.

In a statement published on its website, the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) said the concession marks the launch of an agro-industrial project expected to mobilize around $640 million in foreign capital.

According to information reported by local media, the project includes the development of a special export processing zone covering about 809 hectares. It will host processing units for cassava, cashew nuts, sesame, soybeans, fish, and fruit, as well as factories for packaging, animal feed production, and alternative energy.

The remainder of the concession will be used for modern farms that rely on advanced technologies such as drones, GPS, and IoT sensors for irrigation and farm management, supplying raw materials to the processing units. The company also plans to integrate more than 10,000 smallholder farmers into its sourcing program to ensure a steady supply of raw materials.

According to project officials, production will be geared mainly toward Asian markets, including China. They say the investment will help boost production in several strategic agricultural sectors and strengthen export earnings from agricultural and food products.

Stéphanas Assocle