By Abdallah Msambachi
Transforming Tanzania’s Soybean Seed System: A Collaborative Breakthrough
For years, Tanzanian smallholder farmers have faced a significant challenge: limited access to high-quality soybean seeds. This issue has stifled productivity, hindered income growth, and constrained the expansion of the soybean value chain. Despite the crop’s critical importance in ensuring food security, supporting livestock feed production, and driving industrial use, many farmers relied on low-yield recycled seeds. In 2023, the Tanzanian Sustainable Soybean Initiative (TSSI), under SAGCOT, stepped in to address this bottleneck by launching a collaborative effort to transform the nation’s seed system. The initiative seeks to unlock the full potential of soybean farming in Tanzania. A field tour conducted in March 2025 to follow up on the SOYA seed system in the Ruvuma region highlighted notable progress in improving access to quality seeds and strengthening the soybean value chain.
The Power of Partnerships
Addressing the seed challenge has been a continuous collective effort, driven by collaboration and commitment. The SAGCOT Centre Ltd (SCL) team has been working with government authorities, research institutions, academic bodies, NGOs, and private agribusinesses to build and sustain an integrated supply chain. This ongoing partnership ensures that farmers have access to quality seeds, empowering them to improve productivity and secure their livelihoods.
Government Support: Building the Foundation
Government support has played a pivotal and ongoing role in transforming Tanzania’s soybean sector. Significant progress has been achieved in building farmer capacity through comprehensive initiatives such as the mapping of seed demand and the establishment of soybean model farms and demo plots, managed by extension officers from local authorities. Additionally, institutions like the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) and the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI) have been at the forefront of enhancing seed quality and streamlining certification processes. These efforts ensure farmers have reliable access to high-yield soybean varieties, driving productivity and sustainable growth across the agricultural value chain.
Private Sector Leadership: Driving Transformation
The private sector and development organizations have emerged as the driving force behind Tanzania’s soybean revolution, spearheading transformative change across the industry. In Ruvuma, Savior Chanai, owner of Real World Company Ltd, has played a pivotal role as a catalyst for progress. By establishing a reliable market for farmers, he provided them with the assurance needed to scale up production, confident that their efforts would be met with guaranteed buyers.
As farmers increasingly embraced expanded production, the demand for high-quality seeds surged. Organizations such as M-CODE and Sange Agro, alongside input suppliers like Guavay, stepped forward to address this critical need. These partners have been instrumental in facilitating farmer training programs, distributing certified seeds, and establishing demonstration plots. These efforts have ensured that smallholder farmers have the knowledge and resources necessary to maximize yields and achieve sustainable success.
Grassroots Mobilization: Extension Officers and Farmer Organizations
At the heart of this transformation were extension officers and farmer organizations who worked tirelessly at the grassroots level. Traveling from village to village, they conducted hands-on training sessions and showcased the impact of certified soybean seeds. Farmers who once struggled with poor yields now witnessed firsthand how science-backed farming techniques could dramatically boost productivity and income.
A Farmer’s Story: From Struggles to Success
One of the most inspiring success stories is that of Theresphory Miti, a soybean farmer from Maposeni village. For years, Miti relied on low-quality seeds with unpredictable yields, leaving him unable to plan for his family’s future. Everything changed when he joined the soybean partnership.
Miti received certified soybean seeds and training in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) through the initiative. His fields flourished, yielding significantly larger harvests than ever before. With increased income from surplus sales, he built a new home, invested in additional farming assets, and funded his children’s education.
Inspired by his success, Miti dedicated part of his land as a model farm, where he now teaches other farmers the benefits of using certified seeds and adopting improved farming methods. His journey exemplifies how access to the right resources can break cycles of poverty and empower entire communities.
Scaling Impact: Strengthening the Soybean Value Chain
The impact of these partnerships extends far beyond individual farmers. Across Tanzania, soybean production is being revitalized, strengthening the entire agricultural value chain. More farmers are adopting certified seeds, leading to improved food security and greater market competitiveness. Increased production has also attracted processors and buyers, opening new market linkages.
These collaborations have sparked policy discussions on formalizing contract farming guidelines and market stabilization strategies, providing farmers with greater financial security and ensuring sustainable growth. One promising development is the Soybean Revenue Model, a framework piloted by M-CODE in partnership with SAGCOT. This model aims to establish sustainable financing, fair pricing, and expanded market opportunities, setting the stage for national adoption.
A Future Built on Collaboration
The success in Ruvuma now serves as a blueprint for nationwide expansion. As partnerships continue to grow, efforts are underway to expand awareness campaigns, enhance extension services, and finalize contract farming frameworks that will provide long-term stability for soybean farmers.
Tanzania is now on the path to a thriving, self-sustaining soybean industry. With continued collaboration, the vision of prosperous farmers, stronger markets, and national agricultural transformation is within reach. The seed of change has been planted—and it’s growing into a future of endless possibilities.
