UPDP’s plan for agriculture, land and industrial growth

The United People’s Democratic Party has promised to eliminate the use of the hand hoe in Tanzania’s agriculture if it is elected to lead the country in this year’s General Election. PHOTO | FILE

Dar es Salaam. Few issues resonate with Tanzanians as deeply as land and agriculture. They are not only the backbone of the economy but also the lifeline of millions of households across the country.

More than 65 percent of Tanzanians depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, according to government statistics, yet the sector remains trapped in low productivity, outdated tools and recurring conflicts over land use.

The United People’s Democratic Party (UPDP), in its 2025–2030 manifesto, has made a bold pledge: to modernise farming by eliminating the hand-hoe, restore land ownership rights to citizens and drive a new wave of industrialisation powered by nuclear energy.

But can this ambitious agenda change the trajectory of rural poverty and national development?

Agriculture contributes nearly 30 percent of Tanzania’s GDP, but the sector’s growth has lagged behind population increase.

Yields remain low compared to global averages: maize, the staple crop, averages just 1.5 tonnes per hectare compared to over four tonnes in parts of Asia.

Mechanisation is limited. Over 70 percent of farmers still rely on hand-hoes, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. Irrigation covers less than 10 percent of arable land, despite Tanzania being blessed with rivers, lakes and arable land.

Experts say the figures show why Tanzanian farmers were still poor, as the country produces a lot, but the productivity per acre remains very low because of too much reliance on rain-fed farming and manual tools.

Ending the era of the hand-hoe

The party’s manifesto speaks directly to this problem:

“Many farmers in Tanzania still use the hand-hoe, but if UPDP is given the mandate by citizens, it will completely eliminate the use of the hand-hoe in farming.”

To achieve this, UPDP pledges to distribute tractors and irrigation pumps across villages and hamlets. Farmers without cash would be allowed to farm on credit, repaying costs after harvest.

In addition, irrigation schemes would be prioritised in areas with major rivers and lakes, while boreholes and dams would be dug in drier zones.

Crucially, farmers would also receive farm inputs and equipment on soft loans “without conditions,” and extension officers would live in farming communities to provide technical support.

“This is perhaps the most ambitious anti-poverty promise in the entire manifesto,” notes an agricultural economist, Dr Godfrey Malima. “If every farmer has access to mechanisation and irrigation, productivity could triple within a decade.”

The land question: From state ownership to citizens

Land remains one of Tanzania’s most politically sensitive issues. The current legal framework vests all land in the president as trustee for the people.

While citizens can hold rights of occupancy, the state retains ultimate authority, including the power to reallocate land for investments.

This has led to frequent disputes, with communities complaining of being dispossessed without fair compensation.

UPDP proposes a radical shift: returning land to citizens through title deeds and ensuring that communities have a direct stake in any natural resources — oil, minerals, or projects — discovered in their areas.

“Every citizen with land will be given a title deed,” the manifesto asserts. It further states that investors would be required to negotiate directly with communities on revenue sharing, with government only supervising agreements.

“This is revolutionary,” argues lawyer and land rights activist Fatma Lissu. “It would give real power to communities, but it also risks undermining the state’s ability to plan and regulate land use. The devil will be in the details.”

Farmer–pastoralist conflicts

Land is also at the heart of recurring clashes between farmers and pastoralists. The conflicts, often violent, stem from competition over scarce grazing land and water.

UPDP pledges new legislation to bar pastoralists from settling near farming areas. Those who damage crops with livestock would have their herds confiscated and face prosecution.

Similarly, farmers encroaching on grazing land would face penalties and compensation obligations.

“The proposal is strict, but perhaps necessary,” says Dr Malima. “What we need is clarity of land use plans and strong enforcement. Without it, both farmers and pastoralists will continue to live in fear.”

Fishing and blue economy

The manifesto also extends to the fishing sector. UPDP promises to remove restrictions on fishing zones, provide modern boats and nets and guarantee markets locally and internationally.

Illegal fishing practices, such as dynamite and unregulated nets, would be punished by asset forfeiture.

With Tanzania’s vast coastline and freshwater lakes, fishing has been underexploited. “The sector could be a major employer if modernised,” notes marine scientist Edna Nyang’wale. “But sustainability must also be a priority.”

Industrialisation

UPDP’s strategy does not stop at farming. It connects agricultural productivity with industrial growth. The manifesto pledges to build factories in every region, processing everything from textiles to meat and fish.

“These factories will be handed over to citizens organised in their groups… once they finish repaying the construction costs, the factories will be transferred to them as their property,” it states.

This model mirrors cooperative ownership, where citizens not only work in factories but eventually own them. The government would initially finance construction, with groups repaying loans from profits.

Economist, Ms Joyce Kihwele calls this a “socialised industrial model”: “It blends socialism and capitalism. If run transparently, it could empower communities, but the risk of mismanagement is high.”

The nuclear ambition

Perhaps the most eye-catching pledge in the manifesto is the construction of nuclear power plants to boost electricity generation.

“If given the mandate by citizens, UPDP pledges to build nuclear power plants in our country to ensure abundant electricity supply.”

The party argues that nuclear energy will not only solve power shortages but also fuel industrialisation, lifting Tanzania from a middle-income to a high-income economy.

While ambitious, experts urge caution. “Nuclear power requires billions of dollars, advanced safety systems and highly trained personnel,” says energy analyst Charles Kamuelwe.

“Countries like South Africa have struggled with it despite stronger economies. UPDP must explain how Tanzania would manage such a leap.”

Several case studies illustrate both potential and pitfalls.

Ethiopia has invested heavily in irrigation, transforming parts of its drylands into breadbaskets. However, displacement of communities around mega-dams has sparked controversy.

Nigeria has piloted farmer cooperatives linked to agro-processing plants, but corruption and weak markets have hindered impact.

India has launched nuclear energy projects that now supply about 3 percent of its electricity, but critics argue the costs and risks remain high.

These examples show that ambition alone is not enough; careful planning, accountability and sustainability are vital.

For ordinary farmers, the promises are enticing. “I am tired of the hand-hoe,” says 46-year-old farmer Asha Mohamed from Singida. “If the government can truly bring tractors and irrigation, our lives will change. But we hear these promises every election.”

Her words echo a familiar mixture of hope and scepticism across rural Tanzania.

UPDP’s manifesto on land, agriculture and industry is arguably its boldest. By pledging to end hand-hoe farming, restore land rights and build nuclear-powered industries, the party seeks to present itself as the champion of farmers and the working poor.

But the challenges are enormous. Financing mechanisation, ensuring fair land allocation, managing farmer–pastoralist tensions and entering the nuclear age are undertakings that require not just political will but massive resources and technical expertise.

As Dr Malima sums up: “This is a vision of transformation. But Tanzanians must ask — is it realistic, or is it another utopian dream? The answers will shape the debate heading into the elections.”