Tanzania Market Fundamentals Summary

The objective of this report is to document the basic market context for staple food and livestock production and marketing in Tanzania.  The information presented is based on desk research, a field assessment using rapid rural appraisal techniques, and a consultation workshop with stakehoders in Tanzania. Findings from this report will inform regular market monitoring and analysis in Tanzania. 

Maize, rice, sorghum, millet, pulses (beans and peas), cassava and bananas (plantains) are the main staple foods in Tanzania.  Maize is the most widely consumed staple in Tanzania and the country imports significant quantities of wheat to meet local demand for wheat flour. Consumption of other staples varies across the country based on local supply and demand dynamics. Cattle, goat and sheep are the major sources of red meat consumed in Tanzania.

Tanzania’s cropping calendar follows two distinct seasonal patterns.  The Msimu season covers unimodal rainfall areas in the south, west and central parts of the country while the Masika and Vuli seasons cover bi-modal rainfall areas in the north and eastern parts of the country (Figure 5).

As a member of the East Africa Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Tanzania plays an important role in regional staple food trade across East and Southern Africa (Annex III).  The country is generally a surplus producer of staple cereals and pulses, and exports significant quantities of these commodities to neighboring countries in East and Southern Africa inlcuding Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratice Republic of Congo (Figure 2).

A large network of traders support the collection, distribution and retailing of staple foods across the country with no significant barriers to entry (Annex I).  The most significant domestic staple food marketing corridor originates from the surplus producing regions of Rukwa, Mbeya, Njombe and Ruvuma with Dar es Salaam as the key destination market (Figure 1).  High transportation and market information costs are key factors limiting the efficient flow of staple foods from surplus producing areas to deficit areas within Tanzania.