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  • Which region produces the most palm oil in Tanzania?
  • Kigoma, Mbeya and Pwani are the main oil palm producing regions in Tanzania – with Kigoma producing about 61.4%, Mbeya 35.7% and Pwani 0.9% as per 2017/18 agricultural season data1. In Kigoma there are over 30,000 smallholder subsistence palm oil farmers2. Meanwhile, the country imports over 500,000 MT of palm oil per annum.
  • What is oil palm used for in Tanzania?
  • More recently, additional uses for this crop have developed, such as local soap production using palm oil. Oil palm production in Tanzania is carried out primarily by smallholder farmers living in Kigoma Region (Kigoma Rural District), as well as in Mbeya Region (mostly Kyela District) and some parts of Tanga and Pwani regions.
  • What is the palm oil value chain in Tanzania?
  • The palm oil value chain in Tanzania - Diagnostics, investment models and action plan for development and innovation (2019) Tanzania`s edible oil sub-sector stands at Tshs 676.2 billion (US$294 million) with players like Bidco Oil and Soap Ltd, Murzah Oil Mills and Alaska Tanzania3.
  • Does Tanzania need to import oil palm seeds from abroad?
  • Oil palm experts advise that, Tanzania doesn’t need to import seeds from abroad as we have the best parent stock. In total, Tanzania requires some 20,377,500 Tenera plants in order to produce the required 570,000 MT of edible oil through palm oil value chain. This is a huge number of oil palm trees needed in the country.
  • Can oil palm fill the edible oil gap in Tanzania?
  • Experts4 report that oil palm, coconut and avocado as the leading edible oil producing value chains per unit area, worldwide. Hence, an investment opportunity avails itself in tapping oil palm, coconut and avocado’s potential in filling the edible oils’ gap in Tanzania. Oilseeds are produced in almost all regions in Tanzania.
  • Can palm oil value chain development help alleviate poverty in Kigoma?
  • In Kigoma there are over 30,000 smallholder subsistence palm oil farmers2. Meanwhile, the country imports over 500,000 MT of palm oil per annum. Thus, palm oil value chain development offers great potential for both import substitution and poverty alleviation.