On March 25, 2026, we hosted the third monthly researcher meeting of the year at IFCN—packed with insightful discussions and inspiring ideas. A standout presentation came from Enock Ndaki:
“The Dairy Industry in Tanzania: Untapped Potential of the ‘White Gold’ Sector”

Key Dairy Sector Facts in Tanzania

Turning Challenges into Opportunities
Tanzania’s livestock sector grapples with animal diseases, limited access to improved breeds, and inefficient farming practices. With targeted policies, investments, and farmer support, these can become growth drivers via better genetics, optimized feeding, stronger farm management, and robust animal health services.

Strengthening Local Dairy Production
Despite a massive livestock population, Tanzania relies on imports due to quality issues, poor infrastructure, and limited farmer training. Bridging these gaps builds trust in local milk, enhances nutrition, and powers the domestic dairy market.

Tanzania Dairy Sector Insights:

• Market Size & Growth: Tanzania’s dairy sector produces ~3.5 billion liters annually (2024 est.), with 75% from smallholder farms. Demand grows 5-7% yearly due to urbanization and rising incomes, per FAO data.

• Key Stats: 25 million cattle (world’s 12th largest herd), but yield averages just 2-3 liters/cow/day vs. global 6-10 liters—huge efficiency gap. Imports hit $100M+ yearly for milk powder.

• Opportunities: Cooperatives like Tanga Fresh have scaled processing 300% since 2015. Tech like mobile vet apps and AI feed optimization could double yields. Government targets 50% import reduction by 2030 via subsidies.

• Challenges Ahead: Climate variability cuts forage 20%; aflatoxin contamination risks exports. Solutions: Climate-resilient breeds and blockchain traceability.

These insights position Tanzania as Africa’s rising dairy powerhouse—perfect for investor or researcher interest.