Tanzania and Kenya have moved to deepen bilateral cooperation in agriculture, trade and food security following renewed commitments made during high-level talks in Dodoma.

The discussions, held between Tanzania’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Gerald Mweli, and Kenya’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Catherine Wahome, focused on implementing a recently signed agricultural cooperation agreement aimed at boosting regional trade integration and strengthening agricultural value chains across East Africa.

The engagement follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on agricultural cooperation on May 4, 2026, in Dar es Salaam during Kenyan President William Ruto’s state visit to Tanzania. The agreement was signed by Tanzania’s Minister for Agriculture, Daniel Chongolo, and Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Mutahi Kagwe.

According to officials, technical teams from both countries will now coordinate implementation of the agreement and develop a joint action plan covering agricultural production, trade facilitation, investment and food security initiatives.

Mweli said Tanzania was ready to work closely with Kenya to expand cooperation in strategic agricultural areas and support regional economic integration efforts.

A major focus of the discussions was the harmonisation of phytosanitary certification requirements to reduce non-tariff barriers that continue to affect the movement of agricultural goods between the two countries. Officials said improving certification alignment would help facilitate smoother trade flows and improve market access for agricultural exporters on both sides of the border.

The agricultural cooperation forms part of a broader package of eight Memoranda of Understanding and bilateral agreements signed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan and President Ruto during bilateral talks earlier this month.

The agreements span several strategic sectors, including transport infrastructure, maritime services, railway development, public sector capacity building and trade cooperation.

In the transport sector, both countries agreed to strengthen cooperation in railway development to improve the movement of goods and passengers within the East African Community region. The leaders also committed to improving maritime transport systems through closer coordination between the Port of Dar es Salaam and the Port of Mombasa, two of East Africa’s most important trade gateways.

Officials said the agreements reflect a broader regional strategy focused on economic integration, infrastructure connectivity and coordinated policy development aimed at accelerating trade and industrial growth across East Africa.

The renewed agricultural partnership comes as both countries continue prioritising food security, export expansion and agricultural modernisation amid rising regional demand for food products and increased focus on cross-border trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).