Tanzania Implements Strategy to Boost Domestic Milk Production

Tanzania 30.03.2026

Sourse: www.thecitizen.co.tz

The Tanzanian government, in collaboration with the Tanzania Dairy Board, has launched a strategy to enhance local milk production and quality. Efforts include infrastructure investment, tax incentives, and a national vaccination campaign to reduce milk imports and promote economic growth.

Tanzania Implements Strategy to Boost Domestic Milk Production

The government of Tanzania, alongside the Tanzania Dairy Board (TDB), has initiated a comprehensive strategy aimed at increasing domestic milk production and improving quality standards. This move seeks to decrease the reliance on milk imports, which currently stands at 11.6 million litres annually, costing over Sh23 billion.

Prof. George Msalya, TDB Registrar, highlighted that local milk quality has been compromised due to practices like adulteration and improper storage. To combat these issues, the strategy focuses on enhancing production, establishing robust collection and processing systems, and educating stakeholders throughout the value chain.

According to Prof. Msalya, milk production in Tanzania has grown from 3.9 billion litres in 2025 to 4.01 billion litres in 2026, aided by improved livestock practices and technology adoption. Tanzania, with over 39 million cattle, is prioritizing the introduction of improved dairy breeds to boost yields.

The government's commitment includes a Sh216 billion allocation for a five-year national vaccination program targeting livestock health and productivity. Moreover, dairy infrastructure has been expanded with the establishment of 188 processing plants and an increase in milk collection centers from 200 to 269 within six years.

Additionally, the government has removed certain taxes on milk collection and processing equipment to encourage investments. A significant 10-year project, valued at Sh520 billion, is underway to transform the dairy sector, addressing climate change impacts through initiatives like procuring improved cattle and constructing new collection centers.

Efforts also extend to the educational sector, with plans to reach 5,000 schools by 2030 through a school milk program, aiming to enhance student nutrition and expand milk's domestic market. This is supported by more than Sh30 billion set aside by the Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank to aid farmers and investors in developing dairy operations.

Training sessions for livestock officers and dairy experts have been conducted to ensure quality control across the value chain. Ms. Hawa Rajabu, a dairy inspector, underscored the importance of hygiene in milking practices to prevent contamination, with equipment provided to detect and prevent milk adulteration.