Agriculture continues to be among the important economic sectors in Zanzibar as it supports the livelihoods of 70% of the population directly and indirectly. For the year 2024, agriculture sector accounted for 24.3% compared with 24.9% (2023) of the total GDP, whereby the Livestock sector leading by 10.5% in terms of total agriculture sector contribution, followed with the crop sub-sector by 6.8%; fisheries sub-sector 5.7% and forestry sub-sector 1.2%.
Over the past decade, the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar has made significant investments in the agricultural sector, resulting in an increase in food self-sufficiency levels from 40% to 70% of the national demand. Despite these achievements, the sector remains largely subsistence-based in both production and productivity. To address these challenges, the Government has placed great importance on irrigation particularly for rice, fruits and vegetable crops due to the rising demand for food in the country. This situation is driven by the fact that a large proportion of the rice consumed in Zanzibar is imported. For this reason, the Government is undertaking various efforts to increase the production of rice and other crops to ensure food security. Currently, a total of 2,300 ha (5,750 acres) has been developed with irrigation infrastructure, an expansion from 875 ha to 2,300 ha. As a result, annual irrigated rice production has increased from 5,400 tons in 2019 to 11,634.5 tons in 2024 and productivity has risen from an average of 1.5 tons per hectare per year to 5.5 tons.
Over the past decade, the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar has made significant investments in the agricultural sector, resulting in an increase in food self-sufficiency levels from 40% to 70% of the national demand. Despite these achievements, the sector remains largely subsistence-based in both production and productivity. To address these challenges, the Government has placed great importance on irrigation particularly for rice, fruits and vegetable crops due to the rising demand for food in the country. This situation is driven by the fact that a large proportion of the rice consumed in Zanzibar is imported. For this reason, the Government is undertaking various efforts to increase the production of rice and other crops to ensure food security. Currently, a total of 2,300 ha (5,750 acres) has been developed with irrigation infrastructure, an expansion from 875 ha to 2,300 ha. As a result, annual irrigated rice production has increased from 5,400 tons in 2019 to 11,634.5 tons in 2024 and productivity has risen from an average of 1.5 tons per hectare per year to 5.5 tons.
