The Maize Value Chain in Tanzania

This case study outlines a value chain analysis of the maize sector in Tanzania, intended to inform the National Strategy for the Maize Industry. It identifies systemic inefficiencies in the value chain and lists specific institutional and infrastructural barriers that hinder investment and growth.

• The maize value chain in Tanzania is characterized by fragmentation and poor coordination, featuring inefficient connections between producers and consumers. This lack of trust and reliable information, combined with a failure to achieve economies of scale, creates uncertainty that deters investment from both commercial investors and risk-averse small-scale farmers.
• Several constraints currently hinder the maize sub-sector, including corruption, poor rural infrastructure, uncertain land tenure, limited access to affordable finance, and periodic bans on cereal exports. Other barriers include local taxes on farm production, weak business skills, inadequate technical and institutional capacity, and limited availability of improved seed.
• To foster future partnerships and progress, the document argues for the creation of a credible National Maize Development Strategy developed jointly by public and private sector actors. This strategy should ensure that interventions from donors, international foundations, and the Government do not stifle private sector initiative, while private sector organizations must improve their capacity to advocate for change.

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} }