To tackle food shortages and the importation of food products from outside Zanzibar, 2,148.7 hectares of irrigation infrastructure and 800 hectares of old schemes have been rehabilitated.
The area planted with crops increased to 124,357.93 acres in 2025 from 104,667.8 acres in 2024, while staple food crop production reached 86.1 percent.
This was revealed on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, in the House of Representatives as the government responded to queries from members.
The government detailed its strategies to strengthen agricultural production to satisfy the domestic market and export produce abroad, driven by the implementation of the Agricultural Sector Transformation Plan 2025-2035.
Tumbe Representative, Mr Mmanga Mohammed Hamed, ACT-Wazalendo, sought to know the plan for achieving self-sufficiency and exporting crop produce, and submitted questions regarding the sector.
Special Seats Women Representative, Ms Moza Mohammed Khamis, questioned the strategy to reduce chicken imports, which currently reach five to ten containers daily.
Responding to these queries, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources, and Livestock, Dr Salum Soud Hamed, said that strategic plans are in place to eradicate this situation in Zanzibar.
“The area planted with crops has increased to 124,357.93 acres in 2025 from 104,667.8 acres in 2024, while the production of staple food crops has reached 86.1 percent,” said Dr Soud.
In the poultry sector, the Minister cited robust strategies, including promoting investment in chick production through companies such as Zanbreed Ltd of Kitope and Ideal Chicks Ltd of Kwambani, which have already commenced operations.
Other plans include establishing poultry feed mills, providing training on modern farming and disease control, and connecting farmers with reliable markets.