Africa-Press – Tanzania. PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has described the newly inaugurated ITRACOM Fertilisers Limited factory as a game-changer for Tanzania’s agriculture and a key driver of Africa’s journey towards food security.
Speaking during the launch in Dodoma yesterday, which was also attended by Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye, President Samia said the factory marks a new chapter in reducing reliance on imported fertilisers and strengthening regional cooperation.
“This is more than just a factory; it is a solution to one of the biggest challenges facing our farmers,” she said, noting its role in boosting productivity, creating jobs, and enhancing trade within the East African Community.
Agriculture remains Tanzania’s economic backbone, providing about 70 per cent of jobs, 60 per cent of industrial raw materials, and 30 per cent of GDP. Yet fertiliser use across Africa remains low due to high import costs, a gap the ITRACOM plant aims to close.
The factory, operational since December 2022, has a production capacity of one million tonnes annually, with part of the output destined for export. It currently employs 1,500 people, with projections to reach 3,000 as operations expand.
President Ndayishimiye described the factory as more than an economic investment, calling it a symbol of the brotherhood between Tanzania and Burundi.
“I sincerely thank President Samia and the people of Tanzania for your great hospitality. Today’s inauguration is a clear sign of our commitment to strengthen our solidarity,” he said.
The factory, which produces organo-mineral fertilisers, is a subsidiary of the ITRACOM Group headquartered in Burundi. He said it represents a significant step insupporting farmers in both Tanzania and the wider East and Central African region.
“For me, every mouth should have food and every pocket should have money,” said Ndayishimiye, adding that the factory will help lower import costs, improve farmers’ incomes, and strengthen food security.
He congratulated the factory’s owner, Adriano Ntigacika, known as “Ziranoze”, for building what he called an economic bridge between Burundi and Tanzania. “Soon, we will also witness the laying of a foundation stone for another factory from Tanzania to Burundi,” he said.
President Ndayishimiye reflected on the long history between the two nations from pre-colonial trade to Tanzania hosting Burundians fleeing conflict in the 1970s. “Today, Burundians no longer come as refugees but as investors. Adriano was once a refugee here but returns today as a major investor. This is something we are proud of,” he said.
He said that the factory is not just about fertiliser but also about transforming agriculture into a modern, competitive, and productive sector that boosts economies and creates jobs.
President Samia said the project reflects the growing economic ties between Tanzania and Burundi, with trade volume reaching 209.8 million US dollars in 2022/2023.
She also pointed to infrastructure projects like the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Uvinza to Musongati, which will further enhance regional trade.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to agriculture, with the sector’s budget rising from 294bn/- in 2021 to 1.24tril/- this year. Efforts include strengthening irrigation, expanding access to quality seeds, improving soil testing, and providing fertiliser subsidies worth over 600bn/- in four years.
President Samia called on the company to ensure fertiliser reaches farmers in remote areas, urging extension officers to educate farmers on proper usage. “This is how Africa starts solving its own problems,” she said.
The CEO of ITRACOM, Nduwimana Nazer, said the plant is one of the largest in East Africa and possibly in the entire continent that produces organo-mineral fertilisers.
“The factory has the capacity to produce one million tonnes of fertiliser annually and an additional 100,000 tonnes of agricultural lime, which is crucial for combating soil acidity,” he said.
For More News And Analysis About Tanzania Follow Africa-Press
