Tanzania boosts irrigation drive with US$9M equipment handover

TANZANIA – Tanzania has stepped up its irrigation push after the government handed over new equipment worth US$9 million to speed up projects across the country.

The Ministry of Agriculture on January 29 transferred irrigation equipment valued at 23.4 billion Tanzanian shillings, equal to US$9 million, to the National Irrigation Commission. The handover aims to support faster drilling and development of irrigation systems nationwide.

Agriculture accounts for about 23 percent of Tanzania’s gross domestic product and provides work for nearly 65 percent of the population. Most farming still depends on rainfall, a factor the government wants to reduce through stronger irrigation support.

Local media reports show that the equipment package includes 19 heavy drilling rigs that can reach depths of between 300 and 1,800 metres, along with 17 vehicles for material transport, two trailers and 23 motorcycles to support field operations.

The investment aligns with government plans to drill 500 irrigation wells across 178 districts during the 2025 to 2026 financial year. Authorities expect the wells to irrigate 30,393 hectares of farmland and support about 58,900 farmers.

Daniel Chongolo, Minister of Agriculture, said the purchases came from the irrigation development budget, which stands at 308.7 billion Tanzanian shillings, equal to US$120.6 million, for the 2025 to 2026 period. “The ministry will continue to supervise and monitor the availability of funds so that projects are completed on time,” Chongolo said.

Under a five year irrigation development plan adopted in 2022, the National Irrigation Commission aims to raise Tanzania’s total irrigated area to 1.67 million hectares by 2028. Official figures place the country’s total irrigation potential at 29.4 million hectares, highlighting a wide gap between current use and available resources.

Regional context as Kenya advances major project

The Tanzanian investment follows a similar move in Kenya, where the government recently signed a major irrigation contract to strengthen food production.

Kenya agreed to a KSh40 billion deal, equal to US$250 million, with China Communications Construction Company Limited for the Galana Kulalu Athi Dam project. The contract places the Chinese firm at the centre of one of Kenya’s largest irrigation investments.

The National Irrigation Authority said the project supports efforts to stabilise food supply and lower household food costs. “Today’s contract signing signifies a direct response to the Government’s commitment to lowering the cost of living and achieving national food security by transitioning from rain fed to irrigation based agriculture,” the authority said.

Together, the two developments signal a growing regional focus on irrigation as a foundation for steady food production and rural incomes.

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