anzania has adopted a new national land policy which, among others, lowers the ceiling under which foreign investors can lease land from the current 99 to 33 years.
The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 8 and 9 call for the promotion of development-oriented policies that support productive activities aimed at lifting the majority of people out of poverty.
Agriculture is the backbone of Tanzania's economy and more than 80 percent of the population depends on it for their livelihood, but while the country has a total of 44 million hectares of land suitable for agricultural production, only 10.8 million hectares are currently being cultivated, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives.
"Village leaders often make dubious deals with outside investors without providing appropriate information for villagers to make an informed decision," says Marjorie Mbilinyi, a policy analyst with the Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP).
"I think it is good that the government has heard our cries. Very often the compensation given when your land is taken is too small and sometimes not paid in time," said Maulid Ali, a farmer in Kisarawe district.