Edible oil production supports increase in food security levels. Deficit in food supply, edible oil in particular is a common occurrence in Tanzania. It is estimated that over 15% of rural households are food insecure, with 15% more at risk of becoming food insecure. The fortification of sunflower oil can, for example play an important role in reducing vitamin A deficiencies (14, 23, 32, 33).

Edible oil production advances the Government's long-standing objective of promoting import substitution (21, 22, 23). It also supports the broader agricultural transformation and industrialization agenda (14, 18).

Large-scale oil production may lead to the depletion of high value field crops, if the value chain is not managed sustainably, especially given potential externalities from further strain experienced through climate change.

Increased industrial activity through edible oil production may exacerbate pollution levels with negative health and biodiversity consequences for people and planet.

The limited availability of high yield seeds and local seed multiplication and finance sources may limit the inputs required for edible oil production and hence reduce the expected impact.

If no deliberate efforts are in place to enhance the skill base of women and youth, the processing activities may provide opportunities to those already served and hence limit the expected impact.

The EU’s restrictions on the use of export taxes in a number of developing countries is a major trade risk, which may have negative trade effects for Tanzania particularly as it struggles to promote value addition, and which may hence limit the expected impact.

Optimize domestic crop utilization, foster local value addition and advance import substitution.

Third National Five-Year Plan (FYDP 3), 2021: Seeks to enhance research and development and productivity in strategic crops, including edible oil crops. Particular emphasis is on expanding the production zones for oil palm oil beyond Kigoma region, the traditional production area. The 19,641 hectares currently farmed represents just 17.2% of the area suitable for growing oil palm, suggesting significant room for expansion (4).

Sunflower Sector Development Strategy, 2016-2020: Highlights government's emphasis on the use of hybrid seeds, starting with imports but increasingly shifting the focus to domestic breeding (35).

Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC), Strategy for Edible Oil Promotion, 2020: TIC is has laid down strategies for addressing key challenges in the edible oil sector particularly increased access to finance for farmers by securing investments into the edible oil processing segment (6).

Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI) and the Tanzania Agriculture Research Institute (TARI) Strategy for the Edible Oil Sector: Main emphasis is to ensure sunflower can be cultivated in most parts of the country as it benefits from drought-resistant properties and is less susceptible to diseases than other oil-producing crops (35).

Fiscal incentives: Tanzania offers 0% import duty on project capital goods, raw materials and replacement parts for agriculture, animal husbandry and fishing, including for edible oil production. It also offers 100% capital expenditure in the agricultural sector (30, 31, 32).

Fiscal incentives: To support the production of sunflower oil, the government has introduced VAT exemptions on importation of agricultural processing equipment and sunflower seed cake, while maintaining import tariffs on crude and refined palm oil at 10% and 25%, respectively (35).

Other incentive: In June 2020, the government announced that it would support farmers across the country to plant oil palm by providing them with free seedlings. The government also set aside USD 4.3 million to boost cultivation of oil palm. Measures are also being taken to improve the accessibility of farm inputs and undertake capacity building for farmers to enable better farm management (35).

Crops Laws (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 2009: Amends various crops laws with a view to rationalizing roles and functions of Crop Boards, their financing and to provide for other related matters (28).

Plant Health Act, 2020: Has come into play following the dramatic spread of transboundary plant pests and after diseases have increased dramatically in recent years (26).

Plant Protection Act, 1997 and Plant Protection Regulations, 1999: List the pesticides registered in Tanzania (27).

TZS 54:2010: Animal and vegetable fats and oils – sampling (EAS 291), 2002: Is the standard that describes methods of sampling crude or processed animal and vegetable fats and oils, whatever the origin and whether liquid or solid (14).

TZS 1336:2010: Animal and vegetable fats and oils – determination of insoluble impurities content (EAS 312), 2002: Is the standard that specifies a method for the determination of the insoluble impurities content of animal and vegetable fats and oils (14).

Murzah Oil Mills Tanzania, Ltd, Mount Meru Group Ltd, Joe Land Oil Tanzania, Yaza Investment Co. Ltd.

Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Agriculture Research Institutes, Tanzania Export Processing Zones Authority (TEPZA), Agriculture Markets Development Trust (AMDT), Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC), Tanzania Industrial Research Development Organisation (TIRDO).

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), International Trade Centre (ITC).

United States Agency for International Development (USAID), SNV Netherlands Development Organisation.