Tanzania rollout six organic pesticides tailored for strategic crops

Moshi. Farmers in Tanzania are set to enhance crop protection and productivity with the rollout of efficient organic pesticides from the innovative Tanzanian startup, Plant Biodefenders Ltd (PBL), located in Moshi, Kilimanjaro region.

Over the weekend, PBL launched six organic Vuruga biocide products designed to safeguard key crops such as avocado, cotton, coffee, tobacco, cashew, and maize from harmful pests. This milestone follows six years of extensive research and substantial investment.

The Vuruga biocides, approved and registered by the Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticides Authority (TPHPA) for use on national strategic crops, offer farmers an advanced and versatile tool for pest control.

These innovative solutions are set to protect high-value crops critical to the nation’s agricultural economy.

PBL’s CEO Dr Never Mwambela expressed gratitude for the UNDP’s Funguo Innovation program for their financial support, adding, “Farmers will now benefit from our latest innovation in crop protection.”

The Vuruga biocides promise to boost both crop yields and quality, strengthening food security while also increasing Tanzania’s potential in the export market.

Organic farming, which enhances food security, farm incomes, soil health, climate resilience, and biodiversity, is positioned Tanzania to capitalize on the global biocide market valued at $9.71 billion in 2024.

Dr Mwambela emphasized the transformative impact of the products, saying, “Our solutions are poised to revolutionize both the agricultural sector and Tanzania’s export potential.”

In addition to the biocides, PBL has introduced three herbal tea formulations aimed at addressing pressing public health issues, including hypertension, diabetes, and ulcers.

Dr Mwambela noted that improving public health is an important extension of their portfolio.

Since its launch in December 2023, PBL has made notable progress, producing 2,000 liters of organic pesticides daily—enough to cover 16,000 hectares of farmland.

This production capacity is crucial for addressing the pesticide shortage in Tanzania and reducing reliance on expensive chemical imports.

A key achievement occurred when the Tanzanian government, under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, purchased 20,000 liters of Plant Biodefenders’ products to support coffee farmers in Songwe, Arumeru, Arusha, and Manyara regions, who have struggled with pest infestations.

Looking forward, PBL plans to expand its offerings with organic fertilizers and further pest control solutions.

The company is also in discussions for a robust partnership with Maua Pyrethrum in Iringa, a subsidiary of Italian General Chimica Company, which would allow them to tailor organic biocides for pyrethrum cultivation and access the global market.

In recognition of its innovation and sustainability efforts, PBL was awarded the East African Agroecological Food Futures Prize in December 2024. The CEO Dr Mwambela also received accolades for her groundbreaking research in organic farming, earning a research fellowship in Barcelona University in Spain in mid 2024.

Despite these successes, PBL faces challenges, particularly in obtaining government subsidies for organic pesticides, as organic solutions tend to receive less governmental support compared to their chemical counterparts.

The company is advocating for fair subsidies to empower Tanzanian farmers to compete on the global stage in high-demand sectors like cotton, coffee, cashew, and avocado.

TPHPA Director General, Prof. Joseph Ndunguru, has pledged continued collaboration with PBL on research initiatives aimed at developing new biocides.

He acknowledged the severity of pest infestations in Tanzania’s agriculture and praised PBL’s contribution to pest control, consumer health, and environmental protection.

In Botswana, Mr Adam Ngamange, a key agrochemical distributor, has committed to promoting Vuruga biocides across Botswana, Angola, and Zimbabwe, where demand for organic pesticides is high.

Chairperson of the Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement (TOAM), Prof. Mwatima Juma, expressed gratitude for PBL’s contributions to organic farming and promised to support the promotion of their products nationwide.

Zanzibar’s Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, Mr Ally Hamis Juma, invited PBL to establish a factory or display centers in Zanzibar, highlighting the need for organic biocides as the government promotes organic farming to meet the demands of 700 tourist hotels on the islands.

During the product launch, Nyasebo Chibangu, Director of Plant Health and Crops Development, shared that President Samia was deeply impressed by Dr Mwambela’s innovative work.

The government plans to purchase the products and collaborate with PBL on future pest control developments.

PBL’s innovation is a timely response to the growing global challenge of agricultural losses due to pests, with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimating annual global spending on pest control at $220 billion, while pests are responsible for a 40 percent loss in global food production.

Mr Nyasebo said that the government’s partnership with PBL will focus on identifying new pests and diseases and developing effective biocides for future agricultural challenges.