Farming context: Tanzania
Tanzania fertilizer estimates use the selected crop, field, soil and product assumptions from the TZ agriculture dataset. Check local conditions before applying national averages.
| Agriculture share of GDP | ~26% |
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| Arable land | 15,500,000 ha |
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| Irrigated share | ~2% |
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| Main food crops | maize, cassava, rice, sorghum, millet, banana |
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| Main export crops | cashew, coffee arabica, tea, cotton, clove |
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Country context from the AfroTools agriculture dataset - planning reference, not agronomic advice. Confirm with local extension services.
Fertilizer Use in Tanzania
Tanzania is East Africa's largest country by area, with agriculture employing about 65% of the population and contributing approximately 25% of GDP. The country produces maize, rice, cassava, sorghum, beans, coffee, tea, cashew, tobacco, cotton, and a wide range of horticultural products across its diverse agroecological zones. Annual fertilizer consumption has grown significantly to approximately 400,000 to 600,000 tonnes, boosted by government subsidy programs and agricultural modernization efforts. Tanzania imports most of its fertilizer through the port of Dar es Salaam, which also serves as a transit point for landlocked neighbors. The government has promoted local fertilizer manufacturing and blending, with MINJINGU Mines and Fertilizer Ltd producing phosphate fertilizer from the Minjingu rock phosphate deposit near Lake Manyara, one of Africa's few commercially exploited phosphate deposits.
Common Fertilizer Types
DAP (18-46-0) is one of Tanzania's most consumed fertilizers, widely used as a basal dressing for maize in the Southern Highlands (the breadbasket region) and for rice. Urea (46-0-0) is the standard nitrogen top-dressing for cereals and horticultural crops. NPK 10-18-24 and other blends are used for various food and cash crops. Minjingu rock phosphate (MRP) and Minjingu Mazao (a partially acidulated phosphate) are locally produced and promoted as affordable phosphorus sources for the country's acidic soils. CAN (calcium ammonium nitrate) is used for top-dressing in areas where urea volatilization is a concern. For coffee in the Kilimanjaro, Mbeya, and Kagera regions, NPK formulations with calcium and magnesium are recommended. SA (sulfate of ammonia) is used for tea in the Iringa and Mbeya highlands. TSP is imported for crops requiring soluble phosphorus on neutral to alkaline soils.
Subsidy Programs & Access
Tanzania operates a Bulk Procurement System (BPS) for fertilizer, which replaced the earlier voucher-based subsidy program (NAIVS). Under BPS, the government facilitates bulk procurement of fertilizer at competitive international prices, with subsidies reducing the farmgate price. The government has allocated significant budget resources to the fertilizer subsidy, targeting smallholder farmers growing priority food crops. Farmers access subsidized fertilizer through the agro-dealer network, registering at the ward level through their Village Executive Officer. Distribution is organized through regional and district agricultural offices. TFRA (Tanzania Fertilizer Regulatory Authority) regulates the fertilizer market, including quality control and dealer licensing. The e-voucher system has been reintroduced in some regions to improve targeting and transparency. SAGCOT (Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania) and development partners including the World Bank, AGRA, and USAID have supported complementary programs to develop the commercial fertilizer market and strengthen agro-dealer capacity across the country.