In a move hailed as a landmark collaboration, Tanzania has joined forces with Cuba to bolster its local production of vital bio fertilisers and larvicides. The country is setting its sights on reducing import reliance and intensifying the battle against malaria. The ambitious initiative hinges on a newly inked agreement between Tanzania’s National Development Corporation (NDC) and the esteemed Cuban firm Labiofam S.A.
The deal paves the way for a crucial transfer of technology, empowering Tanzania to locally manufacture biofertilisers, critical malaria control agents, and a range of other biotech inputs. This strategic partnership will leverage Cuba’s renowned expertise and innovative solutions, particularly through the Tanzania Biotech Products Limited (TBPL) facility nestled in Kibaha.
Currently, Tanzania grapples with a significant dependence on imported fertilisers, with a staggering 90 percent sourced from abroad. This new alliance promises to dramatically shift this landscape. The Kibaha-based TBPL facility is projected to churn out an impressive 600 million litres of biofertiliser and six million litres of malaria biolarvicide annually, alongside other essential bioproducts.
Dr Nicholas Shombe, the forward-thinking managing director of NDC, underscored the significance of this collaboration as part of a broader vision to establish up to ten production hubs under the TBPL banner. “By 2027, we anticipate having seven operational sites, ultimately expanding to ten. These facilities will all operate under TBPL, a key subsidiary of NDC,” he affirmed.
Dr Shombe further emphasised the multifaceted benefits of this initiative, highlighting its potential to curtail the outflow of precious foreign exchange, generate much-needed employment opportunities, and contribute significantly to improved public health outcomes. “We cannot aspire to become a prosperous nation while still battling the scourge of malaria,” he asserted.
Echoing this sentiment, Mr Julio Gomez Gonzales, the director of Labiofam S.A., reaffirmed Cuba’s unwavering long-term commitment to the joint venture. He stressed that the agreement would be instrumental in fostering both health and agricultural advancement within Tanzania. “Our primary focus is to support Tanzania in its ambitious goal of eliminating malaria by 2030 and to champion the adoption of environmentally sound farming practices,” he stated, recognising Tanzania’s strategic position as a pivotal regional hub.
Tanzania’s Ambassador to Cuba, Mr Humphrey Polepole, lauded the agreement as a truly historic milestone. “This infusion of technology will be instrumental in phasing out harmful chemical inputs in our agriculture, enhancing the safety of our food, and boosting the export value of Tanzanian agricultural produce,” he explained.
He further pointed out that the Kibaha facility, a pioneering project in collaboration with Cuba and only the third of its kind on the African continent, is poised to serve as a continental blueprint. Moreover, it will significantly bolster Tanzania’s capacity to produce vital vaccines and herbicides locally.
Cuba’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Yordeni Despaigne Vera, highlighted that the collaborative journey, which commenced in 2022, has already yielded tangible results, with pesticide production underway at the Kibaha facility. “The factory will initially manufacture ten key products under the expert guidance of our Cuban specialists,” he assured, pledging the ongoing support of the Cuban government.
This groundbreaking partnership is poised to significantly enhance Tanzania’s self-reliance in crucial agricultural inputs, propel its public health objectives forward, and firmly establish the nation as a frontrunner in biotechnology manufacturing within the region.
