Tanzania has a population 65 million people,[1] with 66%[2] of citizens living in rural areas. The agricultural sector employs about two thirds of all the workers in Tanzania.[3] A sector that accounts for 24%[4] of the nation’s GDP.
Smallholder family farms represent 83% of all agricultural holdings in Tanzania and contribute to 75% of the nation’s agricultural output. The average plot size for smallholders in Tanzania is 1.2 hectares and typically consists of crop production. Livestock and poultry production are a very important second source of income for smallholder family farms. Additionally, many smallholder farmers supplement their incomes with off-farm employment, which typically accounts for an average of a third of the annual household income. Nonetheless, roughly 39% of smallholders in Tanzania live below the national poverty line.[5]
The top crops grown by farmers in Tanzania are maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, bananas, sugar cane and cattle milk.[6] Tanzania’s top export commodities in terms of value are rice, maize, pidgeon peas, wheat bran and cashew nuts.[7]
- ^ World Bank. (2022). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=TZ
- ^ World Bank. (2019). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.RUR.TOTL.ZS?locations=TZ
- ^ World Bank. (2020). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS?locations=TZ
- ^ World Bank. (2017). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NV.AGR.TOTL.ZS?locations=TZ
- ^ FAO. (2018). http://www.fao.org/3/i8356en/I8356EN.pdf
- ^ FAO. (2021). http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#rankings/commodities_by_country
- ^ FAOSTAT. (2021). http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#rankings/commodities_by_country_exports
Minimum wage
The minimum wage in Tanzania varies by employment sector and sets a minimum wage of 140,000 Tanzanian shilling (57 EUR) per month for agricultural services.[1] Although the various minimum wages are above the national poverty line, they are below the World Bank standards for extreme poverty. In addition, many employees do not have formal contracts and therefore lack legal protections.[2]
The Global Living Wage Coalition has developed 3 reference value studies for rural Tanzania, one for living wage and one for living income, based on the Anker methodology.
Living wage
The Anker Living Wage Reference Value for rural Tanzania is estimated at 342,926 Tanzanian shillings (139 EUR) per month. This is the wage required for workers in a typical rural area of Tanzania to afford a basic but decent standard of living in 2023.[3]
As for the Living Wage Reference Value for urban Tanzania, this is estimated at 462,868 Tanzanian shilings (189 EUR) per month, 4.4 times the agricultural mimimum wage in Tanzania in 2022.[4]
Living income
The Anker Living Income Reference Value for 2022 for rural Tanzania is estimated at 495,629 Tanzanian shilling (214 EUR) per month. This is the living income estimate for a typical family in rural Tanzania to cover the monthly cost of a basic but decent standard of living. [5]
- ^ WageIndicator Foundation (2023). https://wageindicator.org/salary/minimum-wage/tanzania
- ^ U.S. Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/tanzania/
- ^ Global Living Wage Coalition (2023) Living Wage Reference Value: Rural Tanzania. https://www.globallivingwage.org/reference-value/living-wage-reference-value-rural-tanzania/
- ^ Global Living Wage Coalition (2023). Living Wage Reference Value: Urban Tanzania. https://www.globallivingwage.org/reference-value/living-wage-reference-value-urban-tanzania/
- ^ Global Living Wage Coalition (2023). Living Income Reference Value: Rural Tanzania. https://www.globallivingwage.org/reference-value/living-income-reference-value-rural-tanzania/
Johnny Cashew 
Dutch company Johnny Cashew works withMama Cashew and Fairtrade in Tanzania to offer 600 Tanzanian women a job, with good working conditions such as health insurance, lunch and fair pay.
Fairtrade living Income Reference Price for cashew
A Fairtrade LIRP indicates the price needed for an average farmer household with a viable farm size and an adequate productivity level to make a living income from the sales of their crop. This study was done in cooperation with Johnny Cashew and Lidl Nederland in 2022.
Living Wage Reference Value, Rural Tanzania
Living wage estimate for workers to be able to afford a basic but decent standard of living in a typical rural area of Tanzania. Global Living Wage Coalition, 2022.
Living Income Reference Value, Rural Tanzania
Living income estimate, or estimated monthly cost of a basic but decent standard of living, for a typical family in rural Tanzania. Global Living Wage Coalition, 2022.
Living Wage Reference Value, Urban Tanzania
Living wage estimate for workers to be able to afford a basic but decent standard of living in a typical urban area of Tanzania. Global Living Wage Coalition, 2022.
Assessing coffee household income
Assessment of household income of coffee farmers in seven origins to improve strategy, policy and Fairtrade's Minimum Price.