Tanzania cuts dairy imports by 1.6 million litres, thanks to increased local production and strategic government support.
Tanzania has achieved a significant milestone in its dairy sector, reducing dairy imports by 1,657,372 litres, from 11,747,140 litres in the 2023/24 financial year to 10,089,768 litres in 2024/25.
This reduction aligns with the government’s efforts to bolster local production and decrease reliance on imports.
Livestock and Fisheries Minister, Dr. Ashatu Kijaji, informed Parliament that the number of import permits issued declined from 782 (valued at Sh23.42 billion) to 630 (worth Sh22.97 billion).
She attributed this decline to government initiatives creating a conducive environment for domestic private sector growth, enabling local processors to scale up production.
A notable example is the ASAS Dairies Processing Plant, which recently commenced production of powdered milk with a daily capacity of 100,000 litres.
Additionally, during the same period, 90.4 million litres of dairy products, valued at Sh226 billion, were processed and sold within domestic markets.
These advancements have positively impacted consumption patterns.
Per capita milk intake increased from 67.5 litres in 2023/24 to 68.1 litres in 2024/25, while meat consumption rose from 16 kilograms to 17.6 kilograms per person.
However, these figures remain below the Food and Agriculture Organization’s recommendations of 200 litres of milk and 50 kilograms of meat per person annually.
Overall, the government’s concerted efforts are yielding tangible results, reducing dependency on imported dairy products and strengthening Tanzania’s position in the regional fisheries market.
