Zanzibar tables Sh92.7 billion budget to revive agriculture

Unguja. The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources, and Livestock has set out eight strategic priorities for the 2025/26 financial year to strengthen service delivery and raise food crop production.

Presenting the ministry’s budget estimates on Saturday, May 17, 2025, the docket’s minister, Shamata Khamis Shaame, requested Sh92.728 billion to finance 13 development projects, of which Sh58.183 billion is earmarked for direct implementation.

Funding will be sourced from the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar (Sh24.7 billion) and development partners (Sh33.482 billion).

Mr Shaame said the initiatives are designed to improve services in agriculture, natural resources, and livestock.

A key component includes establishing two new agricultural service centres—one each, in Unguja and Pemba.

“We aim to increase the production of food and commercial crops—including bananas, rice, vegetables, fruits, honey, and livestock products—through enhanced research, technical support, and adoption of modern farming methods,” he said.

Decline in output

The minister revealed that the area under cultivation shrank from 122,514.2 acres in 2023 to 104,667.8 acres in 2024—a decrease of 17,846.4 acres.

Consequently, overall agricultural output fell by 144,870.8 tonnes, from 527,800 tonnes in 2023 to 382,929.2 tonnes last year.

“This drop is largely attributed to unpredictable weather patterns, particularly prolonged periods of rainfall and sunshine,” said Mr Shaame.

Rice production declined by 2,256.8 tonnes—from 43,658.8 tonnes to 41,402 tonnes—with rain-fed farming most affected, falling to 29,767.5 tonnes from 36,362.4 tonnes.

The minister noted that much of Zanzibar’s rice cultivation still depends on rainfall, highlighting the need to improve irrigation infrastructure.

Commercial clove production also declined sharply, dropping by 56 percent to 1,167.4 tonnes in 2024, from 2,654.6 tonnes recorded in 2023.

The poor harvest was linked to adverse weather and heavy rainfall during the flowering season.

Investment in irrigation and inputs

Since 2017, the government has expanded irrigation systems to cover 5,750 acres (2,300 hectares).

Further rehabilitation work is planned in 10 irrigation valleys—Mtwango, Mwera, Bumbwisudi, Kibokwa, Kianga, Saninga, Kinyakuzi, Weni, Makombeni, and Tibirinzi.

Other improvements include repairing boreholes and pumps and promoting drip irrigation systems to improve water efficiency.

The ministry also plans to supply agricultural inputs and improve access to services, while strengthening collaboration with private sector stakeholders.

A total of 1.7 million seedlings—comprising forest, clove, coconut, fruit, and spice trees—will be raised and distributed to farmers.

The health of previously planted seedlings will be assessed to guide future planting efforts.

To specifically address declining clove and coconut yields, the ministry will produce 700,000 high-quality seedlings—200,000 coconut and 500,000 clove—with farmer training provided to encourage better plantation management.

Storage infrastructure will also be enhanced. Plans include constructing and rehabilitating grain storage facilities, promoting the use of improved seed varieties, and conducting assessments of rice production to inform evidence-based planning.

Expanding forestry and eco-tourism

In the forestry sector, the ministry aims to increase tourism to protected areas from 64,000 to 100,000 visitors annually through infrastructure upgrades and enhanced forest attractions.

The minister said an additional one million seedlings will be planted, including 800,000 forest trees and 200,000 fruit and spice trees.

“To ensure sustainability, the government will plant trees across 100 hectares—130 hectares in government forest reserves and 30 hectares in mangrove ecosystems—and provide practical training to 165 staff,” said Minister Shaame.

“The ministry will continue to monitor the growth of planted trees and encourage tree-planting efforts to enhance conservation and revenue generation,” he added.

Committee support and security concerns

The chairman of the parliamentary committee on Trade and Agriculture, Mr Hussein Ibrahim Makungu, affirmed the committee’s support for the ministry’s plans, describing them as critical to enhancing food security and reducing reliance on imports.

However, Mr Makungu raised concerns over reports of livestock encroachment into agricultural areas, with herders allegedly allowing animals to roam freely through cultivated valleys.

He urged the ministry to allocate funds for improving security in vulnerable zones and to intensify engagement with pastoralist communities to raise awareness about the damaging effects of livestock intrusion on crop production.

“The success of these plans will depend not only on funding but also on collaboration and enforcement,” insisted Mr Makungu.