The Maize Value Chain in Tanzania

The maize value chain in Tanzania is characterized by fragmentation and inefficiency, primarily driven by small-scale farmers operating under rain-fed conditions. Significant constraints—including land tenure uncertainty, limited finance, and poor infrastructure—discourage investment despite growing domestic and regional demand. The document argues for a jointly developed National Maize Development Strategy between public and private sectors to foster a positive business environment and encourage 'Green Growth' options.

• The Tanzanian maize value chain is fragmented and poorly coordinated, featuring inefficient connections between producers and consumers and a lack of trust and reliable information systems. This environment creates uncertainty that deters investment from both commercial investors and risk-averse small-scale farmers.
• Several systemic constraints hinder the maize sub-sector, including corruption, local production taxes, periodic cereal export bans, poor rural infrastructure, uncertain land tenure, and limited access to affordable finance and improved seed.
• There is a projected increase in domestic and regional demand for maize, specifically including yellow maize for stock feed, presenting an opportunity for development if the business environment and incentives are improved.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2016). The Maize Value Chain in Tanzania. https://saiia.org.za/saiia-toolkit/the-maize-value-chain-in-tanzania/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. The Maize Value Chain in Tanzania. 2016. https://saiia.org.za/saiia-toolkit/the-maize-value-chain-in-tanzania/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=The Maize Value Chain in Tanzania |date=2 June 2016 |url=https://saiia.org.za/saiia-toolkit/the-maize-value-chain-in-tanzania/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2016maize, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{The Maize Value Chain in Tanzania}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2016}, month = jun, url = {https://saiia.org.za/saiia-toolkit/the-maize-value-chain-in-tanzania/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }