Zanzibar farmers double rice yields with irrigation expansion
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In Tanzania, 2,875 farmers in the Unguja region’s Cheju and Mlemele valleys now cultivate irrigated rice fields after receiving land allocations.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources and Livestock reported this expansion to the House of Representatives on September 10, 2026, in response to questions about rice farming and government gains. These farmers have increased their rice yields from three tonnes annually to 5.8 tonnes, thanks to expanded irrigation infrastructure across four valleys.
The project currently benefits 5,710 farmers, with 2,500 working in Cheju valley and 375 in Mlemele valley. The area dedicated to irrigated rice farming grew from 875 hectares in 2019 to 2,300 hectares in 2024, demonstrating the project’s scale. Beyond increasing food security, the irrigation project created jobs for young people providing services related to agricultural equipment, land preparation, harvesting, and processing.
Dr Salum Soud Hamed, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources and Livestock, also stated the project prevented unauthorized use of farmland and encouraged new income opportunities for communities near the irrigation systems.
