• Tanzania authorized imports of Brazilian livestock and genetic material under new sanitary agreements.
• The move aims to boost productivity in a sector that contributes 27% of the country’s agricultural GDP.
• The decision aligns with Tanzania’s 2022–2027 Livestock Sector Transformation Plan, valued at 2 trillion shillings ($814 million).

Tanzania has officially opened its market to livestock products from Brazil, the South American giant known for its world-class cattle and poultry industries. The move marks a new step in efforts to modernize Tanzania’s low-productivity livestock sector, which accounts for about 27% of agricultural GDP and 7.1% of total GDP.

The Tanzanian government authorized the imports following the signing of sanitary agreements between both countries, Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock said in a statement released on November 7.

The authorization covers a broad range of products, including fresh and processed meat from poultry, cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. It also allows imports of avian and bovine genetic material such as fertilized eggs, day-old chicks, and in vivo or in vitro embryos. Live cattle for breeding purposes are now eligible for export to Tanzania as well.

Tanzania’s decision to partner with Brazil is strategic, given Brazil’s reputation as one of the global leaders in livestock genetics and production efficiency. With a herd of more than 230 million cattle, Brazil ranks among the world’s largest beef producers and is recognized for high-yield tropical breeds such as Nelore and Girolando.

In 2024, Brazil’s average milk yield reached around 2,362 liters per cow annually, while the poultry sector reported an output of about 270 eggs per hen per year.

By contrast, Tanzania’s productivity remains far lower. Official data show local cows produce between 0.5 and 2 liters of milk per day, and native hens lay roughly 45 eggs annually—six times less than industrial layers.

The import authorization signals Dodoma’s intent to raise local productivity through improved genetics and modern breeding techniques. It also supports the country’s Livestock Sector Transformation Plan (LSTP), which runs from 2022 to 2027 with a total budget of nearly 2 trillion shillings ($814 million).

The government views the LSTP as a central tool to increase output, strengthen food security, and drive industrial growth in agriculture-related industries.

This article was initially published in French by Stéphanas Assocle

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum