Unguja. The upcoming Nanenane agricultural exhibition in Zanzibar is set to take a new direction, focusing heavily on training women and youth to encourage agribusiness and reduce reliance on food imports.
Attracting investment into farming and livestock forms a core part of the archipelago’s strategic plan to achieve food self-sufficiency.
The 10th edition of the annual exhibition will run from August 1 to 8 at the Dole Kizimbani grounds, featuring 340 exhibitors across the agricultural and livestock sectors.
Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi is expected to officiate as the chief guest.
Addressing journalists on Sunday, July 26, 2026, the Minister for Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources and Livestock, Mr Suleiman Masoud Makame, said this year’s event will focus on practical demonstrations rather than theory.
"This time we are demonstrating practically where we started and where we have reached. We will hold tailored practical training sessions for farmers and livestock keepers, guiding them on how to start poultry farming or vegetable gardening step by step," said Mr Makame.
He noted that the exhibition will adopt a more professional approach rather than serving merely as a marketplace for entrepreneurs displaying personal goods.
Mr Makame said the ministry will partner with financial institutions, agricultural organisations, and other stakeholders to teach, advise, and empower women and young people.
Success stories of individuals who built thriving ventures from scratch will also be highlighted to inspire new entrants into farming, livestock, horticulture, and spice cultivation.
A central goal of the event is attracting investment to cut external food reliance, particularly rice, where Zanzibar imports nearly 80 percent of its annual demand of 154,000 tonnes.
"We will utilise this exhibition primarily to pursue investors capable of investing in paddy farming and irrigation infrastructure," he added.
Under the theme "Youth and women are catalysts for development," the initiative aims to drive commercial farming.
The ministry is working alongside financial institutions, including the Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB), to facilitate access to affordable loans.
Participants expressed strong optimism about high turnout, though farmer Rajab Ramadhan Abdallah noted that the grounds require future expansion to accommodate growing interest.
The call was concurred by Minister Makame, confirming that space constraints remain a challenge as application requests continue to arrive.
