Dar es Salaam. Two young graduates from Zanzibar have become a symbol of agricultural innovation and entrepreneurship through their thriving venture, TB Farm Partnership.
The duo, Mr Ismail Yusuph Maslim and Mr Kamal Haji Simba, chose to forgo office careers in favour of agriculture, establishing a modern farming enterprise that now supplies fresh produce to luxury hotels along Zanzibar’s eastern coastline.
Mr Maslim recalled that their journey began in 2019 with a 12-acre farm, but the potential for expansion soon became clear. With support from the Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB), they scaled up operations, installed irrigation infrastructure and built a modern storage facility.
“We focus on growing high-value crops, including tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers and papayas,” he said. Mr Simba, a civil engineering graduate, highlighted how they linked agriculture with Zanzibar’s booming tourism industry, creating a sustainable supply chain that reduces reliance on imported produce, strengthens the local economy and promotes consumption of homegrown food.
“Through this project we have created employment for young people and women in Paje and neighbouring villages, offering work opportunities in cultivation, harvesting, packaging and distribution,” he said.
He added that beyond cultivating their own crops, TB Farm also purchases produce from neighbouring smallholder farmers, acting as a vital link between growers and large buyers.
“This inclusive approach has raised farmers’ incomes and elevated agriculture’s status as a viable career path for young Tanzanians,” he noted.
“Every harvest is a sign of hope and proof that agriculture is a worthy, profitable venture,” the two said in a joint statement.
According to TADB, the project has ensured that revenues from tourism are retained within local communities, strengthening Zanzibar’s rural economy and supporting smallholder farmers.
“This venture shows that agriculture can be both profitable and prestigious, especially when linked to other sectors like tourism,” TADB noted.
The bank further said TB Farm reflects the Sixth-Phase government agenda under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, which emphasises empowering youth with access to finance, knowledge and markets.
With affordable loans and business advisory services from TADB, TB Farm has become a reliable supplier to 10 major hotels on the island.
The partnership illustrates the importance of collaboration between government, financial institutions and private-sector players in achieving sustainable economic development.
With success stories such as TB Farm, Zanzibar is demonstrating that youth entrepreneurship can transform agriculture into a modern, market-driven industry—one that feeds the nation, fuels tourism and creates lasting economic opportunities.
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