Tanzania’s National Assembly has approved a 1.105 trillion shilling agriculture budget for the 2026/27 financial year, enabling the nationwide rollout of the Building a Better Tomorrow (BBT) programme aimed at tackling youth unemployment through commercial farming.

The initiative, championed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, marks a shift from pilot projects to a full-scale national programme. According to Agriculture Minister Daniel Chongolo, the expansion will initially target 18 councils, including Chemba, Bahi and Kisarawe, as well as municipalities such as Geita and Mpanda.

“The goal is to equip young people with the tools and inputs needed to run viable agricultural enterprises,” Chongolo told Parliament, highlighting plans to improve access to land, finance, technology and markets.

Tackling land and infrastructure gaps

To address one of the biggest barriers to youth participation—land access—the government plans to establish a 20,000-acre youth farm in Chunya District. The project is expected to serve as a large-scale, practical platform for young farmers without land to engage in agribusiness.

Irrigation is also a priority, with the government procuring 19 water-well drilling rigs to support farming in drought-prone areas, alongside efforts to strengthen local management of water resources.

Strategic crops and fertiliser reforms

Tanzania is focusing on five priority crops under its Agenda 2030 strategy: sunflower, oil palm, wheat, apples and Irish potatoes. The aim is to reduce import dependence, boost domestic production and create jobs across agricultural value chains.

In parallel, the revival of the Tanzania Fertiliser Company is improving input supply. The firm has received a 116 billion shilling capital injection and sold nearly 300,000 tonnes of fertiliser in the 2025/26 season, although distribution delays remain a concern.

Outlook

Agriculture remains central to Tanzania’s economy, employing around 65% of the workforce and contributing roughly 27% to GDP. Analysts say the success of the BBT programme will depend on effective implementation, sustained funding and the ability to connect young farmers to profitable markets.

If delivered successfully, the initiative could become one of Africa’s most ambitious youth-focused agricultural transformation programmes.