Why Tanzania Should Invest More in Sunflower Oil Processing?

In Tanzania, Sunflower Oil is more than just a cooking staple; it’s a business opportunity waiting to be tapped. While the country produces a significant amount of sunflower seeds, the domestic demand for edible oil still outpaces supply. This gap means we import large volumes of cooking oil each year, draining foreign exchange that could instead stay within our economy.

The Opportunity: Meeting Local Demand

According to the Ministry of Agriculture’s 2024 estimates, Tanzania’s annual demand for edible oil stands at around 650,000 metric Tonnes, but local production covers only about 290,000 tonnes. That leaves a shortfall of over 350,000 Tonnes, a gap often filled by imports from Malaysia and Indonesia.

Sunflower oil accounts for a major share of locally produced edible oils. Increasing investment in processing plants could not only reduce imports but also create jobs, boost rural incomes, and strengthen food security.

Where Sunflower Thrives in Tanzania

Tanzania has diverse ecological zones and vast arable land suitable for sunflower cultivation. These ecological zones are found in seven (7) main research and crop production zones:

• Southern Highlands Zone – Ruvuma, Njombe, Mbeya, Songwe, Rukwa, Iringa, and Katavi
• Lake Zone – Mwanza, Kagera, Geita, Simiyu, Shinyanga, and Mara
• Eastern Zone – Morogoro, Tanga, Pwani, and Dar es Salaam
• Central Zone – Singida and Dodoma
• Western Zone – Tabora and Kigoma
• Southern Zone – Mtwara and Lindi
• Northern Zone – Manyara, Kilimanjaro, and Arusha

This presents a strong opportunity to expand and develop sunflower farming, attracting investors into the sunflower industry.

Turning Seeds into Market Power

Processing sunflower seeds into oil locally allows businesses to:

• Supply Domestic Markets – In Tanzania, there is a big demand for sunflower oil for cooking. The data shows that it needs over 350,000 tonnes of sunflower seeds that we have been importing.
• Reach Institutional Buyers – Hotels, restaurants, and food processors prefer consistent, locally sourced supplies.
• Export Regionally – Surplus oil could find markets in neighbouring countries like Kenya, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Why Act Now?

• Import Bills Are Rising – Tanzania spends hundreds of billions of shillings annually on imported edible oils.
• Government Support – Policies now encourage local processing and value addition to agricultural products.
• Growing Urban Demand – Population growth and rising incomes are increasing edible oil consumption, especially in cities.

The Bottom Line

Investing in sunflower oil processing is not just about meeting cooking needs; it’s about building an industry that keeps wealth within our homes. By focusing on high-producing regions like Singida, Dodoma, Manyara, Shinyanga, and Mbeya, entrepreneurs can turn Tanzania’s fertile fields into profitable and sustainable businesses in building their resilience economy.