The Tanzanian government has announced plans to strengthen agricultural skills, research and agribusiness capacity through the construction of a new specialist University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) campus in Lindi region, as part of a broader effort to modernise farming, create jobs for young people and boost national economic growth.
The initiative moved closer to implementation with the laying of a foundation stone for the new campus, which will focus on agriculture and related disciplines. The government considers the sector central to economic transformation, poverty reduction and employment generation.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Dr. Mwigulu Nchemba said the project reflects a deliberate strategy to use higher education as a driver of social and economic development. He linked the campus to Tanzania’s National Development Vision 2050, which prioritises building intellectual capacity, creativity and analytical skills to address long-term development challenges.
Under the current administration, agriculture has received increased public investment. Nchemba said the sector’s budget had risen fivefold, from approximately 200bn Tanzanian shillings in 2020 to more than 1.2tn shillings in 2025, increasing demand for skilled professionals and applied research.
“This level of transformation cannot be achieved without quality education, in-depth research and the application of modern technology,” he said, adding that agriculture remains the backbone of the economy and a major source of employment for young people.
The prime minister urged UDSM to collaborate closely with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, research institutions, the private sector and local authorities to ensure academic research translates into tangible gains in productivity and livelihoods. He also emphasised the importance of information and communication technology and modern teaching methods to ensure the campus is sustainable and internationally competitive.
Construction of the campus is expected to be completed within ten months. Nchemba called on development partners to support the project so that local communities can begin benefiting as early as possible.
He welcomed the decision to locate the campus in Lindi, citing the region’s fertile land, available workforce and favourable conditions for food and commercial crop production. Expanding access to higher education in the southern regions, he said, would help unlock agricultural potential through research, innovation and practical solutions to farmers’ challenges.
The Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Adolf Mkenda, described the campus as a landmark investment for the southern zone, noting that it forms part of the Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) programme, which is funding construction at 47 sites nationwide.
UDSM Chancellor and former president Dr Jakaya Kikwete said the project demonstrated the government’s commitment to expanding access to higher education under President Samia Suluhu Hassan. He thanked Lindi’s regional authorities for allocating land in Ruangwa District and called for further investment in supporting infrastructure, including roads, staff housing, libraries and cafeterias.
For the government, the message was clear: transforming agriculture will depend not only on inputs and markets, but on building the skills, research capacity and innovation needed to sustain growth in the decades ahead.
- Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Tanzania’s economy and a key employer of young people.
- The new University of Dar es Salaam campus in Lindi will specialise in agriculture, agribusiness and related research disciplines.
- The project is part of the Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) programme.
