CultivAid, an Israeli agricultural non profit, is helping modernise Tanzania’s growing wine industry, bringing Israeli expertise in irrigation, viticulture and sustainable farming to local growers as the country seeks to lift grape quality, expand production and grow exports.
Wine production in Tanzania dates to the 1960s, when Catholic missionaries introduced modern viticulture to Dodoma, now the country’s wine capital. CultivAid works with growers, agricultural professionals and researchers across Tanzania, Kenya and Zambia, introducing cultivation techniques aimed at improving yields, sustainability and quality while opening opportunities for exports and wine tourism.
Tanzanian viticulturist Jacob Timothy Mwavika told The Media Line that Israel has become a natural source of inspiration for African farmers and wine producers. “I have followed Israeli agriculture for many years because of its innovation and technology, especially irrigation techniques, desert agriculture and greenhouse technology. Israel also stands out because of the amount of agricultural research and development it invests in,” said Mwavika. Even so, Mwavika admitted he knew little about Israeli winemaking before partnering with CultivAid. He said, “To be honest, I had heard very little about Israeli wine compared to what I knew about table grape production.”
The parallels run deeper than expertise. Like Israel, Tanzania’s main wine growing region has a semi arid climate, making Israeli knowledge particularly relevant to a country that has built a global reputation for cultivating grapes under difficult, water scarce conditions. CultivAid Co-founder and Chief Executive Tomer Malchi recalled the scale of the challenge on first assessment. “We saw that there was a lot to do. There are many difficulties. They have low crop outputs, low quality and pesticide issues. We have a lot of know-how and agronomy that can jump start the crops,” said Malchi. He believes Tanzanian vineyards could double their yields as modern practices spread.
The partnership centres on a six acre demonstration farm CultivAid established in Dodoma. “We are training local residents to be the best agronomists in Tanzania,” said Malchi, describing a recent vineyard management course for 60 local participants. For Mwavika, the collaboration fulfills a long held ambition. He added, “It has always been my dream to raise a new generation of grape specialists. The challenge was that there was no platform to train them. CultivAid has provided that solution and now they are helping develop young professionals with specialised skills in viticulture. The partnership introduced me to experts and methods I had previously only read about.”
Mwavika believes the industry still has considerable room to grow. “The Tanzanian wine industry has significant opportunities for growth because there is still land suitable for grape production. We also have a strong tourism market, where wine consumption is high and with improvements in quality, Tanzania can become much more competitive,” noted Mwavika. Malchi also said the partnership has already delivered measurable results. He explained, “When we began our activity, the local wine industry was producing between 4 million and 5 million liters a year and now we are at 20 million liters.” He also noted that the industry has yet to reach its full potential. “There is still limited innovation and technology in the industry,” said Malchi. Modern equipment and improved techniques could transform both production and quality.
Israel’s own wine industry has transformed over four decades, moving from cheap kosher wines used in religious ceremonies to a sector home to more than 300 commercial wineries exporting internationally, with vineyards from the Golan Heights and Galilee to the Judean Hills and even the Negev Desert. Israeli wine exports totalled about $66 million in 2024, led by the US market and the Negev gained international recognition as a wine producing region in May. The experience has also changed how Mwavika views Israel. He said, “I have learned that Israelis have a genuine willingness to help transform agriculture through practical training, working directly with farmers and openly sharing the results of their research. I have not yet visited Israel but it is something I very much hope to do.”
Chief Executive of SID Israel (the country’s humanitarian aid and international development community) Ayelet Levin Karp said organisations such as CultivAid reflect a different dimension of Israel’s engagement abroad. “Projects like CultivAid reflect a different side of Israel’s engagement with the world, one built on partnership, knowledge sharing and long term economic development. At a time when Israel faces significant international challenges, the work of Israeli development organizations across Africa demonstrates that Israeli expertise continues to be valued because it delivers measurable results and creates lasting opportunities for local communities,” concluded Karp.
