On 17 December 2025, H.E. Anderson Mutatembwa paid a courtesy call on H.E. Watanabe Yoichi, Vice-Minister for International Affairs at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Japan, at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Tokyo.  Also, in attendance were: Mr. Aihara Fuminori, Director for International Agricultural Organizations, MAFF; Mr. Inamura Mitsuhiro, Director for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean - Technical Cooperation, Exchange and Training Program, Emerging Regions Division, MAFF; Ms. Nozomi Ono, Section Chief, Emerging Regions Division, MAFF; Mr. Koide Jun, International Exhibition Leader, Horticulture Crops Division, Crop Production Bureau, and Section Chief for Horticultural EXPO 2027, MAFF; and Ms. Edna Dioniz Chuku, Counsellor for Economic Affairs, Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania in Japan. The meeting reflected the long-standing friendly relations between Tanzania and Japan, particularly in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.

Vice-Minister Watanabe briefed the Ambassador on Japan’s approach to cooperation with African countries, emphasizing tailor-made support aimed at improving agricultural productivity and sustainability simultaneously. He highlighted ongoing cooperation with Tanzania, notably the Sustainable Coffee Production Project implemented in the Mbeya and Ruvuma Regions under the Enhanced Linkages between Private Sector and Small-Scale Producers (ELPS) Programme, which is funded by IFAD and sponsored by MAFF. He noted that this project is the first ELPS initiative globally, and that its progress was showcased during TICAD 9, held in Yokohama.

H.E. Mutatembwa expressed the Government of Tanzania’s deep appreciation for Japan’s long-standing support, noting that bilateral cooperation dates back to 1962, with agricultural cooperation commencing in 1974. He acknowledged the positive impact of Japanese assistance through JICA and other initiatives, particularly in increasing agricultural productivity, enhancing food security, and strengthening capacity building for farmers, extension officers, and agricultural research institutions.

Regarding the ELPS coffee project, H.E. Mutatembwa conveyed Tanzania’s deep appreciation to the Government of Japan for designating Tanzania as a pilot country for the implementation of the Enhanced Linkages between Private Sector and Small-Scale Producers (ELPS) Programme targeting small-scale coffee farmers in Southern Tanzania. The Programme supports nine (9) Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Societies (AMCOS) in the Ruvuma and Mbeya Regions, implemented over a three-year period (2024–2027) in collaboration with IFAD and Japanese private-sector partners. 

H.E. Mutatembwa highlighted that the Programme has contributed to improved productivity, enhanced coffee quality, increased farmer incomes, and strengthened sustainability of the coffee value chain, and noted that the initiative stands as a good model of effective public–private partnership cooperation. He further highlighted Japan’s support in other key areas, including:
i) Agricultural commercialization and industrialization, which has contributed to shifting farmers from subsistence-based production to market-oriented agriculture. In this regard, he cited JICA-supported programmes, including the Tanzania Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion (TAN-SHEP) Programme, which applies the SHEP approach to transform smallholder farmers into market-oriented entrepreneurs by shifting their mindset from “Grow and Sell” to “Grow to Sell”, strengthening business skills, improving market linkages, and integrating interventions into District Agricultural Development Plans (DADPs). He also referenced the Agricultural Sector Development Programme Phases I and II (ASDP I & II), among other initiatives; and

ii) Rice production development under the Coalition for African Rice Development (CARD), citing notable productivity gains and significant capacity-building achievements among farmers and extension officers.

The Ambassador further informed that agricultural products constitute a major share of Tanzania’s exports to Japan, notably coffee, widely recognized as Kilimanjaro Coffee in Japan, which accounts for a significant proportion of total exports. He underscored the importance of continued cooperation in enhancing value addition, quality improvement, and market access for Tanzanian agricultural products in the Japanese market.

H.E. Mutatembwa also proposed the expansion of bilateral cooperation into additional areas falling under the mandate of Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), for the mutual benefit of both countries. Vice Minister Watanabe welcomed the proposals and expressed MAFF’s readiness to engage in further discussions on possible modalities of cooperation.

In addition, the Japanese side briefed the meeting on the GREEN EXPO 2027 Assistance Program for Developing Countries, noting that an updated version of the program documentation is currently under preparation. It was conveyed that the updated document would be shared with the Embassy of Tanzania once finalized or, alternatively, made accessible through the official EXPO Portal for reference and follow-up.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in agriculture and related sectors through continued dialogue and practical collaboration.