Why Yara Tanzania’s animal nutrition plan is a game changer

Dar es Salaam. The introduction in the Tanzanian market of a new range of top quality animal nutrition products from Yara is undoubtedly going to be a significant addition to the advancement of the agriculture sector in the country.

Yara Tanzania’s launch, on September 19, 2023, of eight high standard and environment sensitive feed formula for livestock, poultry and aquaculture, is a practical demonstration of the organisation’s commitment to contribute to Tanzania’s food security, climate resiliency and profitable agricultural practices.

The coming of Yara International’s reputable line of animal feed is also a positive development for Tanzania, coming soon after the country early in September successfully held the Africa Food Systems Forum (AGRF), the world’s premier forum on African agriculture and food systems.

The AGRF meeting brought together more than 5000 stakeholders to take practical action and share lessons aimed at moving the African food systems forward.

Yara International is a key partner of AGRF and has operations in more than 160 countries, including in Africa, working with millions of farmers to address productivity challenges and their collective prosperity.

“By venturing into animal nutrition, Yara Tanzania is keeping the AGRF mission alive on the ground, and also domesticating the company’s global ambition to “Grow a Nature-Positive Food Future”, focusing on, Regenerative Agriculture, Inclusive Prosperity and Climate Neutrality ,” said Mr Winstone Odhiambo, Managing Director of Yara Tanzania and Rwanda.

 Yara’s global pledge is to empower 50 million farmers by 2030.

Tanzania and Rwanda are the third and fourth countries in Africa respectively to introduce the advanced Yara animal nutrition solutions, after South Africa and Kenya.

Yara International is a global manufacturer of highly digestible, traceable and reliable feed materials and feed additives delivered to customers in 70 countries worldwide from its production sites in Kokkola (Finland) and Durban (South Africa).

“Our new range of animal feed products will significantly impact agriculture by improving animal health, increasing meat and milk production, and reducing the environmental impact of farming practices.

Our mission is to empower farmers to thrive while contributing to sustainable development,” said Mr Odhiambo, adding that animal feed manufacturers will also benefit from Yara animal nutrition blend to improve the quality of their supplies.

“Ours is not a competition agenda but we are offering an opportunity to partner to completely turn around the animal feed industry for the benefit of farmers, suppliers and the economy in general.” 

Livestock keepers and feed manufactures have welcomed the entry of Yara in the animal feed segment to address persistent shortages and poor quality that has plagued the industry for years.

Scarce and subpar local animal nutrition products have hindered productivity and disrupted the value chain.

The compounding challenges of Covid-19 pandemic and soaring cereal prices over the war in Ukraine exacerbated the situation, with overburdened farmers compelled to abandon industry or diverting a huge amount of resources to produce low grade animal feed.

 “We are delighted that Yara Tanzania is introducing nutrient-rich animal feed brands.

We are ready to collaborate with Yara to deliver on the knowledge and solutions to help smallholder farmers raise productivity,” said Mr Fuad Abri, the Managing Director of ASAS Dairies, the country’s largest milk producer and processor, when he hosted a team of Yara Tanzania officials in his Iringa offices.

Mr Abri said it was time to join efforts as businesses with a common goal to convert farmers to adopt modern livestock husbandry for quality and sustainability.

Despite being the third largest country in Africa in the number of cattle herds, Tanzania has a milk production deficit of 9 billion litres annually, spending over Tsh30 billion to import the commodity to cover the gap.

Smallholder livestock keepers and chicken rearers Baraka Kibugu, Majoeno Ziangi and Simeon Kikoti expressed optimism that the new Yara products will improve their investments.

“We are confident because Yara has quality fertilizer brands and has established a repute of partnering with farmers and suppliers,” noted Mr Kikoti.