From Struggle to Success: How A $5.8 Million Brasília-Funded Cotton Victoria Project Is Transforming Tanzania’s Cotton Farmers

For years, cotton farmers in Tanzania, especially in the Western and Eastern Cotton-Growing Areas, struggled with low productivity despite investing considerable effort in the crop.

The farmers involved used to practise poor agronomic practices, including unfavourable planting spacing of 40 cm × 90 cm, with average yields of about 200 to 300 kilograms of seed cotton per acre.

To that end, the Government, through the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) and its Mwanza-based Ukiriguru Centre, joined efforts with key cotton stakeholders to improve farmers’ performance through the implementation of a special project.

Dubbed the “Cotton Victoria Project” (CVP), the $5,802,019.08 Tanzania flagship cotton initiative worked to expand the cultivation scope and improve productivity in the production of the economic fibre crop among farmers in Tanzania.

The initiative, which is now phasing out, was initiated during the 2016/17 growing season and was implemented jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture of Tanzania, the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC), the Brazilian Cotton Institute (IBA), the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), TARI-Ukiriguru and the Tanzania Cotton Board (TCB).

The project successfully reached and assisted an estimated 517,343 farmers in at least eleven cotton-growing regions across the country.

As part of its positive outcomes, today, a different picture is emerging, as the adoption of improved production technologies promoted under the Cotton Victoria Project has enabled some farmers to harvest more than 1,000 kilograms per acre, a transformation that is changing not only cotton production but also household livelihoods.

The Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) and the Tanzania Cotton Board (TCB), in collaboration with Dr. Everina Lukonge, the project’s Local Coordinator for Tanzania, Kenya and Burundi, have embarked on documenting the project’s achievements, success stories and impacts among beneficiary farmers as the project comes to an end.

The documentation exercise has taken the team to Western and Eastern Cotton-Growing communities in selected districts across Mwanza, Simiyu, Mara, Geita, Tabora, Singida, Morogoro and Katavi regions.

The wide geographical coverage provided an opportunity to assess how the technologies promoted under the project have influenced cotton production and farmers’ livelihoods in different production environments.

The documentation exercise began on August 19, 2026, and ended on September 1, 2026, engaging District Agricultural and Livestock Officers (DALFOs) to understand the changes brought about by the project at the district level.

Ward extension officers, Cotton Inspectors from the Tanzania Cotton Board (TCB), AMCOS leaders and farmers were subsequently interviewed to capture their experiences and perspectives on the technologies introduced through Cotton Victoria.

According to Mr. John Choto, an Agricultural Extension Officer in Misungwi District, one of the most significant changes has been the adoption of improved cotton planting spacing.

“Farmers used to get an average seed cotton production of 200 kg per acre using the former 40 cm × 90 cm planting spacing, unlike over 1,000 kg per acre after adopting the new 30 cm × 60 cm planting spacing under the Cotton Victoria Project,” he explained.

The impact of the project becomes even more visible through the notable achievements brought about by increased cotton production.

For example, in Hazina Village, Nyangokolo Ward, Bariadi District, Ms. Teleza Godfrey, a cotton farmer and beneficiary of the project, says the improved technologies have contributed significantly to changes in her household.

Through increased cotton production after adopting the new planting spacing and organomineral fertilizer technologies, Teleza says she has been able to construct two modern houses and purchase cattle.

Mr. Mkama Nyahonge, a cotton farmer from Blendabufye Ward, has not only experienced increased cotton production but has also been recognised by the Government through TCB for his achievement, receiving a 75 HP SWARAJ tractor together with its implements after producing a total of 2,600 kilograms of seed cotton per acre during the 2025/2026 cropping season.

“I have built a new house, and 15 farmers (12 male and 3 female), including my neighbours, are successfully using the technologies of Cotton Victoria,” said Nyahonge.

For Mkama, the tractor represents more than a reward. It is a symbol of how improved agricultural practices can create opportunities for farmers to expand their production and influence other members of their communities.

His experience also demonstrates an important element of the Cotton Victoria approach: technology adoption can spread from individual farmers to wider farming communities.

As successful farmers demonstrate the benefits of improved practices, neighbouring farmers gain confidence to adopt the same technologies.

“The agricultural technologies promoted under the Cotton Victoria Project, including the recommended 60 cm × 30 cm planting spacing, manual trimming and the use of organomineral fertilizers, have brought remarkable changes in cotton production across the Eastern Cotton-Growing Area.

“Production has increased from an average of about 800 tonnes to the current 3,800 tonnes,” said Mr. Ndawagala, an Agricultural Officer and Cotton Inspector for the Eastern Cotton-Growing Area.

The Eastern Cotton-Growing Area covers Morogoro, Iringa, Tanga, Pwani and Kilimanjaro regions. According to Mr. Ndawagala, the adoption of these improved cotton production practices has not only increased cotton yields but has also contributed to noticeable improvements in farmers’ livelihoods.

“Significant changes in farmers’ livelihoods have been observed. Many farmers have been able to construct modern houses and purchase cattle, demonstrating the positive economic benefits resulting from improved cotton production,” he added.

Consequently, the project’s impact extends beyond increased yields. For beneficiary farmers, higher cotton productivity has created opportunities to construct better houses, purchase livestock, acquire agricultural machinery and improve household economic security. At the community level, successful farmers are also becoming examples for neighbouring farmers, encouraging wider adoption of improved technologies.