Tanzania has urged African nations to maximize their agricultural potential to end edible oil shortages, asserting that just five countries could meet the continent’s demand through increased domestic production.
Speaking Friday at the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue in Des Moines, Iowa, Dr. Nchemba outlined investment opportunities in agriculture and agro-processing, emphasizing that Africa should transform its vast agricultural potential and geographical advantages into a reliable food supply system rather than remain vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions.
“There is no need for African countries to cry over shortages of cooking oil with all the potential we have. We need only about five countries to feed the whole of Africa,” he said.
Dr. Nchemba noted that the COVID-19 pandemic and global conflicts exposed Africa’s vulnerability to external shocks, particularly disruptions to international supply chains. “The number one solution we have is investing within the geographical premises where agriculture is conducted,” he said, calling for greater investment in domestic and regional agricultural production.
He highlighted Tanzania’s investment opportunities across cereals, horticulture, oilseeds, coffee, cashew nuts, cotton, sugar, spices, roots and tubers, livestock, fisheries, and agro-processing.
Additional opportunities include agricultural inputs, seed systems, fertilizer production, irrigation infrastructure, mechanization, warehousing, cold-chain facilities, food processing, packaging, logistics, and agricultural technology.
Exploiting these opportunities would strengthen food security, reduce import dependence, and build more resilient agricultural value chains, he said.
Dr. Nchemba stressed the need for sustained investment, noting that ambitious agricultural policies and promising technologies cannot deliver meaningful transformation without adequate financing. Citing Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates, he said transforming agrifood systems in low- and middle-income countries would require at least $4 trillion by 2030.
“Investment is the bridge between ambition and results,” he said, arguing that public resources alone cannot finance the needed transformation across Africa’s agricultural sector.
He called on governments to continue investing in essential public goods, including rural and regional infrastructure, irrigation schemes, agricultural research, extension services, and supportive regulatory frameworks.
Dr. Nchemba also urged stronger partnerships among governments, private-sector players, financial institutions, development partners, research organizations, and technology companies to mobilize resources and expertise for expanding agricultural production.
Drawing on his experience as a former agriculture and finance minister, he said collaboration between government and development partners helped Tanzania advance major infrastructure projects supporting economic transformation.
He cited the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), which connects Dar es Salaam with Dodoma and is being extended to strengthen links with neighboring countries, as an example of infrastructure investment supporting regional connectivity.
He also highlighted the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP), which has added 2,115 megawatts to the national electricity supply, strengthening the energy base needed for industries, irrigation, and agro-processing.
Reliable transport and energy infrastructure are essential to reducing production costs, moving agricultural commodities efficiently, and attracting investment in value addition, he said.
Dr. Nchemba said Tanzania’s approach is to have the government concentrate on infrastructure and other essential public services while allowing the private sector to lead investment in areas it can develop efficiently.
He acknowledged contributions from development partners, including the African Development Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, AGRA, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank.
Combining public investment, private-sector participation, and regional cooperation would help African countries turn their agricultural resources into sustainable economic opportunities, he concluded.
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