Introduction

Discover the rich history of tobacco farming in Tanzania, a journey that began in the post-World War II era and has since grown into a vital part of the country’s agricultural landscape.

Historical Expansion

• Iringa:The birthplace of tobacco farming in Tanzania.
• Southwest, South, and Northwest: Subsequent regions that embraced tobacco cultivation.

Organizational Structure

From the beginning, Tanzanian tobacco farmers understood the strength in numbers and formed cooperative societies. These cooperatives, structured around regional administrative boundaries, served as the foundation for marketing crops and securing resources.

• Typical Cooperative: 200-400 members from one or more nearby villages.
• Current Statistics: Approximately thousands of registered primary societies exist today in Tanzania, with more farmers growing tobacco independently.

Governance and Regulation

The tobacco industry in Tanzania is regulated by the Tanzania Tobacco Board (TTB), ensuring that all tobacco is grown through a structured tripartite contract farming system involving primary societies, financiers, and leaf merchants.

• Key Regulatory Body: Tanzania Tobacco Board (TTB)
• Contract Farming: Involves primary societies, financiers, and leaf merchants.
• Input Provision: Managed by the Tanzania Tobacco Council (TTC), which sets the types and prices of crop inputs.

Financial Support and Sustainability

Primary societies acquire loans from financiers to purchase approved inputs, with these loans repaid through tobacco sales. This system guarantees that farmers have the necessary resources while maintaining financial accountability.

Introduction of Dark-Fired Cured Tobacco

As tobacco farming grew, the introduction of Dark-Fired Cured (DFC) tobacco diversified the industry, enhancing Tanzania’s standing in the global market.

Locations

Since then, tobacco has become a household crop in our country and to date it is grown in the following 13 administrative regions involving 33 districts.