The Tanzania Agriculture Research Institute (TARI) has significantly exceeded its agricultural technology research targets, conducting nearly three times the planned studies and thereby enhancing the sector's productivity.
Initially set to carry out 25 agricultural technology projects this fiscal year, TARI completed 64 by the end of March, showcasing its capability and commitment. This achievement followed a budget increase from 31.8 billion TZS in 2022/2023 to 41.5 billion TZS in 2023/2024, as noted by TARI Director General, Dr. Thomas Bwana.
“The development budget—research and seed production—was increased,” Dr. Bwana explained. This financial boost allowed TARI to engage more researchers and expand its efforts. The institute's focus remains on strengthening the national agricultural research system to advance the development and dissemination of technologies, innovations, and management practices that address the needs of farmers and other agricultural
Dr. Bwana detailed the scope of the research: “These technologies include 53 high-quality seeds, eight good agricultural practices, and three studies focusing on value addition. Among the 53 high-quality seeds researched, six have been confirmed for use, including five grape varieties and one for tobacco.”
Agricultural technology typically encompasses research and extension, focusing on developing new crop varieties and improved crop management methods. TARI's advancements include the development of five new grape seed varieties characterized by high yields (7.5 to 27.5 tonnes per hectare), insect resistance, and a longer post-harvest lifespan (14 to 21 days).
Of the 53 technological studies, 47 were submitted to the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI) for testing and approval for human consumption. The seeds studied include varieties for beans, legumes, cashews, rice, bananas, corn, tobacco, and eggplants.
Earlier this month, Agriculture Minister Hussein Bashe, during his 2024/2025 budget presentation, highlighted that among the eight technologies studied by TARI, three were for crop protection and five were for cashew nuts. Additionally, three value-addition technologies were approved for vegetables, mango, beetroot juice, and passion fruit and mango juice.
Minister Bashe also announced a collaborative effort between TARI and the Tanzania Automotive Technology Centre (TATC) to design a sugarcane processing machine for small farmers, currently in the testing stage.
TARI, a semi-autonomous body under the Ministry of Agriculture, oversees all agricultural research activities conducted by the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) in Tanzania.