EU-Funded AGRI-CONNECT Boosts Tanzania’s Farmers

EU-Funded AGRI-CONNECT Transforms Lives of Tanzanian Farmers

 March 24, 2025

The Mbeya Food Park—a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to processing vegetables, fruits, and spices—served as a fitting backdrop for the official conclusion of AGRI-CONNECT, a flagship agricultural initiative funded by the European Union in Tanzania’s Southern Highlands and Zanzibar.

This modern facility has significantly improved post-harvest processing and market access for small agricultural enterprises, reshaping local agribusiness in powerful ways.

Before the establishment of the Mbeya Food Park, smallholder farmers and agri-entrepreneurs faced immense obstacles: limited access to markets, inadequate product quality standards, and restricted capital. Today, their success stories underscore what is possible when opportunity, investment, and support align.

Agriculture remains the backbone of Tanzania’s economy, employing over 65% of the population and contributing nearly 30% to the country’s GDP. Yet for decades, smallholder farmers—the very heart of this sector—have grappled with daunting challenges: climate change, limited financing, poor infrastructure, and lack of market linkages have all hampered productivity and profitability.

Recognizing these hurdles, the European Union prioritized agriculture, investing TZS 270 billion (€100 million) through AGRI-CONNECT. The initiative aimed to enhance agricultural value chains, improve rural road networks, and promote better nutrition.

But AGRI-CONNECT has been far more than a financial project—it has been an investment in people. A striking example is the journey of Bertha Mwaipopo and her business, Libeta Products. Starting from her one-room home kitchen, Bertha processed spices without formal business training, struggled with transportation, and lacked adequate storage.

Today, her business spans over five regions and employs 15 women. The turning point? Access to training, mentorship, and modern equipment at the Mbeya Food Park—resources made available through AGRI-CONNECT.

Located along the Old Airport Road in Mbeya City, the Mbeya Food Park stands as a permanent legacy of this programme. It provides small-scale processors with advanced machinery, secure storage facilities, and technical training to enhance product quality. The facility has revolutionized food processing across the Southern Highlands, helping local businesses scale up and compete in broader markets.

The programme’s impact, however, stretches beyond agriculture-based enterprises.

On a journey from Dodoma to Mbeya, a visit to Iringa’s main market revealed stalls brimming with fresh produce—fruits, grains, spices—all in need of robust value chains to ensure quality processing and packaging. Just like Mbeya, Iringa has also benefited immensely from AGRI-CONNECT, with improved rural roads, processing infrastructure, and market support.

Following the programme's official close, we travelled 30 kilometers through the rolling hills of Rungwe District—an experience that underscored the central role of agriculture not only in the economy, but in daily life.

The trip culminated in the inauguration of the Masebe Dispensary – Mpuguso TTC – Kibaoni road, one of more than 160 kilometers of rural roads upgraded under AGRI-CONNECT. These roads are unsung heroes in the agriculture value chain—without them, even the best harvests risk spoilage before reaching market.

Over 177,000 smallholder farmers in the Southern Highlands now enjoy safer, faster, and more reliable routes to transport their produce. Moreover, AGRI-CONNECT has generated more than 516,000 jobs, completed 166 infrastructure projects, established 85 new processing centres, and reached 63% of Tanzanians through nutrition awareness campaigns.

These achievements are not just statistics—they reflect real-life transformations: thriving businesses, empowered farmers, and healthier communities.

Although AGRI-CONNECT has officially concluded, the EU's commitment to Tanzania’s agricultural sector remains strong. Through the Global Gateway initiative, the EU will continue investing in value chains, transportation infrastructure, and opportunities for smallholder farmers.

For us, AGRI-CONNECT represents a milestone in the journey to build a resilient, competitive, and sustainable agricultural sector.

As we returned from Rungwe, the progress made was clearly visible—from the roads we traveled to the businesses we visited and the farmers we engaged with.

These visible changes serve as a powerful reminder: with the right investment, lasting transformation is possible—particularly in vital sub-sectors like tea, coffee, and horticulture.

The true legacy of AGRI-CONNECT will not be found in reports or charts, but in the lives it has touched—especially the farmers of Tanzania.

Christine Grau is the European Union Ambassador to Tanzania and the East African Community.