Tanzania

We focus on establishing structured trading systems, developing farmers business management and ensuring sustainable, quality and safe food production and consumption. Currently, we are running our Sustainable rice programme and our Good Food for Cities programme in the cities of Arusha, Mbeya, Dodoma, Dar Salaam and Tanga.

Sustainable Rice programme highlights for 2025

As we enter the third year of the of the climate smart lending project funded by the Government of Flanders (Flemish International Climate Action Program), for the second year in a row, farmers achieved a 99% loan recovery rate. This track record of reliability inspired CRDB Bank to launch a brand-new investment product designed specifically for land levelling on irrigation schemes. While 300 farmers have secured climate-smart loans in total, 20 farmers in the Chosi scheme are already using this new form of financing for the upcoming season. Through the Nature Fundi project (REDAA programme) this approach is now also reaching informal financial institutions, with VSLA groups integrating ecosystem conservation initiatives into their loan access criteria. The focus for 2026 will be improving the efficiency of the climate financial scheme and promoting it more widely among farmers. Meanwhile, in Katavi-Mpanda, we’ve introduced modern tools which significantly reduce the physical strain on farmers, particularly women, who previously performed manual weeding and transplanting.

Good Food for Cities programme highlights for 2025

473 solar-powered irrigation systems were installed across the Arusha and Mbeya regions so that the benefits of this system for more sustainable water use could be tested and scaled. Farmers saw operational costs reduced by 40–60% compared to conventional diesel-powered systems. As part of our work using a Participatory Food Safety System (PFSS) in local markets, we continued to deliver training to farmers, local vendors and transporters. In Mbeya, we provided training to 382 farmers, nine transporters and 258 market vendors. These vendors improved their supply chain, sales volumes and transparency. In Igawilo market, for example, sales of vegetables increased from 9.2 tonnes in 2024 to 11.3 tonnes in 2025. In Arusha, 320 market vendors were trained in visual merchandising and 30 transporters in the PFFS. In Tanga city, we are supporting new green jobs and enterprises. In 2025, 11 SMEs were able to access TZS 173 million (approximately €56,000) through a customised strategy for women- and youth-owned enterprises, alongside direct connections with financial institutions and revolving government funds. In Dodoma and Dar es Salaam, Rikolto just launched the 'Growing Together' programme, led by IDH and funded by NORAD. The programme aims to strengthen local food markets by professionalising small and medium enterprises in food processing and distribution.