Haryana: In a significant step reflecting India’s growing agricultural diplomacy, Haryana is actively facilitating its farmers to expand farming operations in Tanzania, as part of a broader state-backed initiative to bridge domestic constraints and global opportunities. The initiative, driven by the Haryana government’s Foreign Cooperation Department, is aimed at enabling farmers to access affordable farmland, better climate conditions, and export-oriented agricultural markets in East Africa.
According to official inputs, the Haryana government has identified nearly one lakh acres of land in Tanzania for potential agricultural use by farmers from the state. The move is part of a sustained effort over the past three years to establish structured cooperation between Haryana and Tanzania through delegations, investor meetings, and policy coordination.
A senior state official was quoted as saying that the government is working to ensure farmers do not face legal or documentation hurdles abroad, adding that verification of land records and agreements with Tanzanian authorities will be a key part of the process. The state also plans to formalise cooperation through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tanzania, which would institutionalise long-term agricultural collaboration.
The initiative has already seen early participation from Haryana-based farmers and entrepreneurs. One such example is a farmer from Bhiwani district, who has reportedly taken a 99-year lease on 65 acres of land in Tanzania for approximately ₹1.5 crore, highlighting the stark contrast with Haryana’s soaring land prices, where agricultural land can cost ₹25 lakh to over ₹1 crore per acre depending on location.
Officials and participating farmers say Tanzania offers several advantages, including fertile soil, favourable climate conditions, lower land costs, and proximity to international maritime trade routes via the Indian Ocean. These factors, they argue, make it a viable destination for large-scale cultivation of crops such as maize, rice, sugarcane, cashew, and horticultural produce.
Beyond farming, the initiative is also expected to stimulate allied industries in Haryana. Government officials believe increased overseas cultivation will boost demand for agricultural machinery, irrigation systems, and farm technology exports from the state.
Another entrepreneur from Yamunanagar has invested in a wood-processing unit in Tanzania, demonstrating that the initiative extends beyond agriculture into agro-based industrial ventures. The unit, employing local workers, processes eucalyptus wood into core veneer used in engineered wood products.
The state’s push aligns with its broader “Go Global” strategy, first introduced during the previous administration and expanded under current leadership. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has repeatedly emphasised that Haryana’s engagement with African nations is not merely commercial but also based on knowledge exchange, skill development, and agricultural cooperation.
At recent India-Africa engagements, Saini described Haryana’s relationship with Africa as “heart to heart” rather than just “business to business,” underscoring the state’s intent to build long-term developmental partnerships.
The Haryana government has also been holding structured meetings under its Foreign Cooperation Department and organizing international partnerships focused on agriculture, horticulture, IT, and manufacturing sectors.
Experts view the Tanzania initiative as part of a larger trend of Indian states exploring overseas agricultural opportunities to counter challenges such as land fragmentation, rising input costs, and declining farm profitability at home. However, they also caution that long-term success will depend on regulatory clarity, logistics infrastructure, and sustained farmer support systems.
A high-level delegation from Haryana is expected to visit Tanzania in the coming months to further evaluate agricultural sites and participate in trade discussions, marking the next phase of what could become one of India’s most ambitious state-led global farming initiatives.
