The African Development Bank Group has approved a $24.6 million senior corporate loan to Mohammed Enterprises Tanzania Limited (MeTL) to revitalise and expand the country’s agro-industrial production. The initiative aims to modernise tea, sisal, and macadamia value chains while improving processing capacity, sustainability, and market competitiveness.
The project will rehabilitate ageing tea estates, convert over 1,000 hectares into organic plantations, and upgrade processing factories to double production output. It will also establish extensive new sisal plantations along with a 200-hectare macadamia farm. These efforts will be supported by upgraded rural infrastructure, modern machinery, and stronger value chains that link smallholder farmers to domestic, regional, and international markets.
The investment is expected to generate more than 1,400 new jobs—primarily for women and youth—while creating over $10 million in additional annual export earnings and contributing around $36 million in fiscal revenues. By improving market access and supporting women farmers and smallholder producers, the project aims to boost rural incomes and reduce poverty.
MeTL, a longstanding Tanzanian agro-industrial company founded in the 1970s, will implement the project through its specialised agro-industrial division. The company’s integrated processing facilities and farming operations position it strongly to expand production sustainably and efficiently.
The Bank’s financing is part of a broader $74.7 million investment package co-funded by ILX B.V. and MeTL’s equity contributions. The program aims to modernise key agricultural sectors, promote climate-smart practices, and reinforce Tanzania’s role as a leading producer of tea, sisal, and macadamia.
The African Development Bank emphasised that the initiative reflects its commitment to strengthening Africa’s private sector and advancing inclusive, climate-resilient agricultural development.
