• Emirati group signs agreement with TISEZA for large-scale farming

• Up to $100 million planned for 10,000 hectares, expandable to 20,000

• Project targets irrigated, commercial agriculture development

Emirati agribusiness group Al Dahra said on February 9 that it signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) to develop large-scale agricultural projects in the East African country.

Under the partnership, the company plans to invest about $100 million to develop 10,000 hectares of farmland, with the option to expand to 20,000 hectares. TISEZA is expected to facilitate the identification of suitable land for irrigated and commercial farming, provide regulatory support and offer investment incentives.

“Tanzania offers exceptional agricultural potential, and together with TISEZA, we aim to introduce advanced, sustainable and resilient farming models that support the development of modern farming infrastructure, acquisition of state-of-the-art agricultural technologies, and implementation of smart agritech systems in Tanzania,” Al Dahra Chief Executive s,” Al Dahra Chief Executive Arnoud van den Berg said in a statement published on the company’s website.

Details on the launch timeline and targeted agricultural segments have not yet been disclosed. Al Dahra operates across a broad range of activities, from the production to the marketing of grains such as rice and wheat, fruits including citrus, dates, grapes, apples and olives, and animal feed across several continents, including Africa.

The investment is expected to boost agricultural output in Tanzania, where significant potential remains untapped. According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, the country has 44 million hectares of arable land, but only about 10.8 million hectares, or 24%, are currently under cultivation. Tanzania’s total irrigation development potential is estimated at 29.4 million hectares, of which less than 5% is currently utilized.

Stéphanas Assocle