On August 5, 2025, the 11th Annual Agricultural Policy Conference (AAPC) was convened in Dodoma, bringing together 110 participants from across Tanzania. The gathering united policymakers, researchers, academics, farmers, private sector leaders, development partners, and financial institutions, each committed to advancing Tanzania’s agricultural transformation agenda.
The theme for this year, “Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation in Tanzania: Unlocking the Challenges”, offered a platform to reflect on progress, identify persistent bottlenecks, and chart practical pathways for change.
The Guest of Honour, Dr. Stephen Nindi, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, opened the proceedings. In his remarks, he underscored the Ministry’s commitment to advancing seed security, youth agribusiness, and data management systems. He further highlighted the urgent need to revisit Tanzania’s classification of land resources:
“Tanzania has an ample amount of land that remains underutilized simply because much of it is not officially defined as arable. We must broaden this definition to unlock the full potential of our resources and sustainably support the diverse food systems our nation depends on.”
In a departure from the traditional three-day format, the 11th AAPC was structured as a focused one-day program, balancing efficiency with depth of dialogue. The agenda featured eight expert presentations and panel discussions around three thematic areas:
- Addressing Informality in Food Systems – exploring pathways to formalize and strengthen market structures
- Sustainable and Climate-Smart Livestock Systems – advancing resilient livestock production models
- Leveraging Nutrition in Aquatic and Indigenous Food Systems – unlocking opportunities for improved nutrition and livelihoods from Tanzania’s untapped indigenous crops and fisheries
Representing the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Dr. Edwin Paul Mhede, Deputy Permanent Secretary, reinforced the importance of multi-sector collaboration in strengthening value chains and safeguarding food security. He stressed that policy dialogue must fully recognize the contribution of livestock and aquatic resources, noting that:
“Tanzania’s water resources are a national asset, comprising exclusive economic zones, transitional waters that cover 24% of our territory, and numerous small water bodies. Policy discussions must reflect the central role of these resources and amplify integration of nutrition policy and nutrition security.”
The success of the 11th AAPC would not have been possible without the generous support of our development partners and sponsors: ASPIRES Tanzania, AGRA, BRiTEN, AXUM, and Rice Council of Tanzania. Their contributions underscore the importance of partnership in driving meaningful policy dialogue and implementation.
