Harvest Revolution: New technology to slash wheat, barley imports

THURSDAY February 26, 2026

By The Tranquillity News Correspondent, Tanzania

For years, Tanzania’s wheat and barley farmers have been fighting a losing battle against a dual enemy: Increasingly resilient pests and a rapidly shifting climate.

With the country forced to import a staggering 90 per cent of its wheat annually, the stakes for food sovereignty have never been higher.

However, a significant shift is on the horizon. In a move that aligns with the government’s ambitious goal to reverse those import statistics, Balton Tanzania has officially launched a suite of 10 advanced pesticides designed to protect local yields and restore farmer confidence.

Speaking at a high-profile launch event in Arusha, General Manager of Balton Tanzania Jacob Vorster did not mince words about the current state of the fields.

He noted that many farmers have been trapped using weak or outdated chemicals that simply cannot stand up to modern agricultural threats.

“For the first time, we have introduced high-quality solutions specifically to alleviate the challenges of crop failure,” Vorster told the gathered distributors, adding:

“These are developed with advanced technology to prevent pest resistance and control the invasive weeds that have been choking our production.”

The initiative targets the core of the problem: while Tanzania consumes vast amounts of wheat, local farmers currently only meet 10% of that demand. By arming growers with more effective tools, the company hopes to see that percentage climb significantly.

A specialised arsenal for the field

The new lineup is not a ‘one size fits all’ solution. According to Chonya Wema, a plant science expert at the firm, the 10 products are precision-engineered for specific threats.

From the MWANZO 660SE, which kills weeds before they even break the soil, to the OMEGA 112EC, which targets the destructive local pest nicknamed Boko Haram, the catalog represents a comprehensive defense strategy for the Tanzanian farmer.

The road ahead: Affordability and access

While the science is promising, the success of the initiative hinges on one thing: Accessibility. Local agents, such as Swalehe Mkilindi from the Kilimanjaro Region, welcomed the news but offered a grounded perspective.

Mkilindi urged the company to ensure these high-tech solutions are packaged in various sizes so that even small-scale farm owners can afford them.

“These pesticides could be a saviour for farmers struggling with invasive weeds,” noted Mkilindi, stressing: “But they must remain affordable to replace the low-quality alternatives currently on the market.”

As these products begin to roll out to agents nationwide, the goal remains clear: To transform Tanzania from a wheat and barley importer into a self-sufficient breadbasket, one protected acre at a timeΩ