Tanzania is making significant progress towards seed self-sufficiency, with domestic production now accounting for up to 81% of the country’s seed supply, according to Ministry of Agriculture data for the 2023/2024 season.

Around 71,356 tonnes of seed were produced locally, while imports accounted for between 19% and 21.4% of supply. The increase in domestic production is helping Tanzania reduce its dependence on foreign seed markets and strengthen the resilience of its agricultural sector.

The shift is particularly important because disruptions to international supply chains can affect farmers’ access to essential agricultural inputs and, ultimately, food security.

Smallholder farmers remain key

Smallholder farmers continue to play a major role in Tanzania’s seed system. Between 60% and 95% of locally used seed is estimated to come from small-scale farmers operating largely through informal systems.

These seeds are often adapted to local growing conditions and are exchanged between farmers or sold through local markets.

However, the use of formally certified improved seed remains relatively low. An Agricultural Sector Development Programme report found that only 19.5% of Tanzanian households were using improved, certified seed, while an estimated 78% to 90% continued to rely on indigenous or traditional varieties.

Advocates say locally produced and indigenous seeds can offer environmental and agricultural benefits because they are often adapted to local conditions and can be more resilient to pests, climate variability and changing growing conditions.

Abdallah Mkindi, Coordinator of the Tanzania Alliance for Biodiversity (TABIO), said Tanzanian and other African organisations are working to increase farmers’ access to indigenous seed varieties.

TABIO is working with the Seed Working Group and organisations including PELUM Tanzania, the Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement (TOAM), Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP), Tanzania Small-Scale Farmers’ Forum (SHIWAKUTA) and Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania (SAT).

Promoting seed sovereignty

Tanzania is also involved in continental efforts to strengthen food sovereignty through the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA).

The network brings together 41 member organisations operating across 50 African countries and promotes food sovereignty, agroecology and greater control over local food systems.

AFSA advocates for farmers’ seed rights and policies that protect smallholder farmers, pastoralists, indigenous communities and local food systems. It also promotes organic farming practices aimed at improving soil health and biodiversity while reducing dependence on chemical inputs.

Through education and outreach programmes, Tanzanian organisations are helping farmers learn about organic seeds, natural fertilisers and biological pesticides.

Mkindi said these initiatives have reached farmers in regions including Mtwara, Lindi, Mbeya, Songwe, Arusha, Dodoma and Mara.

Farmers see opportunities in indigenous seeds

The growing focus on indigenous seeds and ecological farming is also creating opportunities for farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs.

Carren Makundi of Flottery Bakery in Babati District, Manyara Region, said her business uses locally produced crops in products such as orange-fleshed sweet potato chips, pumpkin buns and beans.

Sebastian Msapalla, Director of Organic Moringa, said indigenous seed-based crops have also helped his business develop export markets in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

For farmers, the benefits can be seen directly in the field. Juliana David, who uses organic seeds and pesticides, reports harvesting between 15 and 20 bags of maize and five bags of beans per acre.

She called for greater production of organic pesticides and more farmer education on the benefits of local seed varieties.

SHIWAKUTA Policy and Advocacy Officer Thomas Laiser said the organisation has reached more than 450,000 farmers across several regions while promoting agroecological farming, youth participation and the preservation of indigenous seed varieties.

The organisation is also working to establish seed banks and strengthen local farmer institutions to preserve agricultural biodiversity.

Building a resilient food system

Tanzania’s growing domestic seed production is an important step towards greater food security and agricultural resilience. But stakeholders say more needs to be done to protect indigenous seeds, strengthen local seed systems and ensure farmers have access to appropriate technologies and knowledge.

Government, civil society organisations and farmers will need to work together to incorporate indigenous seed systems and agroecological practices into agricultural policies.

Strong local seed banks, farmer education and support for sustainable farming could help reduce dependence on imported inputs while improving soil health and resilience to climate change.

Tanzania’s progress in domestic seed production, combined with growing support for indigenous seeds and agroecology, could provide a stronger foundation for food self-sufficiency.

For smallholder farmers, protecting seed diversity is not only about preserving traditional knowledge. It is also about building a more resilient agricultural system capable of responding to climate change, market disruptions and future food-security challenges.