Chandigarh: In a notable move reflecting India’s expanding agricultural outreach, the Haryana government is actively supporting farmers from the state in exploring farming opportunities in Tanzania. The initiative is part of a wider policy push aimed at easing domestic agricultural constraints while opening access to international land and markets.
Led by the state’s Foreign Cooperation Department, the programme is designed to help farmers benefit from affordable farmland, favourable climatic conditions, and export-oriented agricultural prospects in East Africa. Officials say the effort is being developed as a long-term strategy to diversify Haryana’s agricultural footprint beyond India.
As per government sources, Haryana has identified close to one lakh acres of land in Tanzania that could potentially be used for agricultural activities by farmers from the state. This development follows nearly three years of diplomatic and administrative engagement involving delegations, investment discussions, and policy-level coordination between Haryana and Tanzanian authorities.
A senior official indicated that the government is taking steps to ensure farmers do not encounter legal or documentation-related challenges while operating abroad. Work is underway to verify land records and establish formal arrangements with Tanzanian counterparts. The state is also preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tanzania, which will create a structured framework for long-term agricultural cooperation.
Early participation from Haryana’s farming community has already begun to take shape. A farmer from Bhiwani district has reportedly secured a 99-year lease on 65 acres of land in Tanzania for around ₹1.5 crore. Officials highlight that this stands in sharp contrast to land prices in Haryana, where agricultural land can range between ₹25 lakh and over ₹1 crore per acre, depending on location and demand.
According to stakeholders, Tanzania offers several advantages for large-scale farming, including fertile soil, favourable climate conditions, lower land acquisition costs, and access to global maritime trade routes via the Indian Ocean. These factors make it suitable for cultivating crops such as maize, rice, sugarcane, cashew, and horticultural produce.
The initiative is also expected to benefit Haryana’s allied sectors. Government representatives believe overseas agricultural expansion will increase demand for farm machinery, irrigation systems, and agricultural technology exports from the state.
In a related development, an entrepreneur from Yamunanagar has set up a wood-processing unit in Tanzania, employing local workers and converting eucalyptus wood into core veneer used in engineered wood products. This reflects how Haryana’s presence in Tanzania is expanding beyond agriculture into agro-based industrial investments.
The state’s global outreach aligns with its broader “Go Global” strategy, first introduced under previous administrations and expanded in recent years. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has repeatedly emphasised that Haryana’s engagement with African nations is not limited to trade but also includes knowledge sharing, skill development, and agricultural cooperation.
At India-Africa engagements, Saini has described Haryana’s relationship with Africa as “heart-to-heart” rather than purely “business-to-business,” signalling a deeper developmental partnership approach.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Cooperation Department of Haryana continues to facilitate structured international partnerships across sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, IT, and manufacturing, strengthening the state’s global engagement framework.
Experts observe that Haryana’s Tanzania initiative reflects a broader trend among Indian states seeking overseas agricultural opportunities to address domestic challenges such as land fragmentation, rising input costs, and declining farm profitability. However, they caution that long-term success will depend on regulatory clarity, logistics infrastructure, and sustained institutional support.
A high-level delegation from Haryana is expected to visit Tanzania in the coming months to assess agricultural sites and participate in bilateral discussions, potentially marking the next phase of one of India’s most ambitious state-led international farming initiatives.
