Country’s fertilizer usage to reach one million tonnes this season

DAR ES SALAAM: The Tanzania Fertilizer Regulatory Authority (TFRA) said on Tuesday that fertilizer use in the country sets to rise to 1.0 million tonnes for the upcoming agricultural season, driven by increased awareness and adoption among farmers.

This significant increase reflects the growing recognition of fertilizer’s role in enhancing agricultural productivity and food security in the country.

TFRA Chief Executive Officer Mr Joel Laurent announced the new projections, which is almost an increase of 20 per cent from 840 tonnes of fertilizer used in the 2023/24 season.

“We want all farmers to use fertilizers to maximise production hence ensuring a surplus of food in the country while warranting exports,” Mr Laurent told the ‘Daily News’.

He said signs show that there are growing awareness among farmers about using fertilizers to boost agricultural productivity and enhance family income.

Prior to 2022 only 350 tonnes of fertilizer were used by farmers and the subsidy programme increasing the usage to 590 tonnes in 2022/23.

However, Mr Laurent said that they are planning to increase fertilizer production locally to do away with import dependence. The country imported 86 per cent of the fertilizer used in 2023/24.

Currently, Minjingu Mines and Fertilizers and Intracom Fertilizer are producing about 850,000 tonnes per year. Minjingu plans to raise its production from 100,000 tonnes to 250,000 tonnes, while Intracom Fertilizer aims to produce 600,000 tonnes to enable the country to meet demand by half.

“The government’s goal is to eliminate dependence on imports, and we project to be self-sufficient in local fertilizers by 2030,” Mr Laurent said.