Haryana: In a major push towards international agricultural collaboration, the Haryana government has stepped up efforts to connect its farmers with opportunities in Tanzania, signalling a shift towards globalising the state’s agrarian economy. The initiative, spearheaded by the Foreign Cooperation Department, aims to address domestic farming challenges while unlocking access to cost-effective land, favourable agro-climatic conditions, and export-driven markets in East Africa.
The move is part of a broader strategy to enhance farmers’ income by enabling them to explore overseas cultivation and investment avenues. Haryana, despite being a key contributor to India’s food grain production, faces increasing pressure from land fragmentation, rising input costs, and limited expansion capacity.
According to official inputs, the state has identified nearly one lakh acres of agricultural land in Tanzania that could be made available to farmers from Haryana. This development follows sustained engagement over the past three years, including high-level meetings, trade discussions, and policy coordination between stakeholders in both regions.
A senior government official stated that efforts are underway to ensure that farmers venturing abroad face minimal legal and procedural hurdles, with a focus on verifying land records and establishing transparent agreements with Tanzanian authorities. The Haryana government is also working towards signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tanzania, which will formalise and institutionalise long-term agricultural cooperation.
The initiative has already witnessed early adoption. In one instance, a farmer from Bhiwani district secured a 99-year lease on 65 acres of land in Tanzania for approximately ₹1.5 crore, underscoring the stark difference in land affordability. In Haryana, agricultural land prices can range from ₹25 lakh to over ₹1 crore per acre, making large-scale farming increasingly difficult.
Officials highlight that Tanzania offers multiple advantages, including fertile soil, supportive climate conditions, significantly lower land costs, and proximity to international trade routes via the Indian Ocean. These factors make it an attractive destination for cultivating crops such as maize, rice, sugarcane, pulses, cashew, and horticultural produce.
Beyond crop production, the initiative is expected to boost Haryana’s allied industries. Increased overseas farming activity is likely to drive demand for agricultural machinery, irrigation systems, and agri-tech solutions manufactured within the state. Officials have emphasised that Tanzania presents strong demand for such equipment, opening additional export avenues.
The engagement is not limited to farming alone. An entrepreneur from Yamunanagar has already established a wood-processing unit in Tanzania, employing local labour and producing eucalyptus-based veneer for industrial use. This reflects a broader trend of agro-based industrial expansion accompanying agricultural investments.
The initiative aligns with Haryana’s evolving “Go Global” policy framework, which focuses on strengthening international partnerships across sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, manufacturing, and technology. The government has been actively organising structured meetings, field assessments, and stakeholder consultations to ensure that farmers and investors receive accurate information and institutional support.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has emphasised that Haryana’s engagement with African nations goes beyond trade, highlighting the importance of knowledge exchange, skill development, and long-term cooperation. The state views this initiative as part of a larger effort to build sustainable and mutually beneficial partnerships.
Experts believe that Haryana’s outreach to Tanzania reflects a growing trend among Indian states exploring overseas agricultural models to overcome domestic constraints. However, they caution that the long-term success of such initiatives will depend on regulatory clarity, logistical infrastructure, financial viability, and continued government support.
A high-level delegation from Haryana is expected to visit Tanzania in the coming months to assess ground-level opportunities, interact with local authorities, and advance discussions. If implemented effectively, the initiative could emerge as one of India’s most ambitious state-led global agriculture expansion programmes, setting a precedent for other regions to follow.
