NARCO

General Overview

• Type & Ownership: NARCO is a fully state‑owned parastatal under the Ministry of Livestock & Fisheries, focused on large-scale commercial cattle ranching.

• Establishment: Originally created under the Companies Act in 1975, evolving from pre-independence operations like the Overseas Food Corporation and Tanganyika Agricultural Corporation.

• Headquarters: Based at the Nane Nane Exhibition Grounds, Nzuguni, Dodoma, relocated from Dar es Salaam around February 2019.

🐄 Ranch Network & Operations

• Ranches Operated: Manages 14 core ranches across Tanzania, including Kongwa, Dakawa, Ruvu, Mzeri Hill, West Kilimanjaro, Manyara, Uvinza, Kalambo, Usangu, and several in Kagera region. Plans to add Mwisa II.

• Livestock Ownership: A 2022 report noted that of 155,554 cattle on NARCO ranches, only 22,842 (about 15%) were NARCO-owned, with the rest leased to private ranchers.

• Leasing Partnerships:

  • Long-term & Short-term blocks: Over 116 long-term and 120+ short-term investor leases.

  • In March 2025, the Government directed action against 27 Kalambo Ranch investors breaching cattle-only agreements due to crop farming and subleasing, with government debts over TSh 1.3 billion.

• Conflict Reduction Initiatives: NARCO has leased out around 25% of its land to local pastoralists to ease conflicts over grazing.

📈 Mandate & Products

• Core Mandates:

  1. Large-scale cattle breeding and beef production (e.g., “Kongwa Beef”).

  2. Leverage ranch assets via investor block leasing.

  3. Provide farmer training and field-based support.

• Products & Services:

  • Beef: Including the branded Kongwa Beef.

  • Other outputs: Hay, farmyard manure, breeding stock (sheep and horses).

🏆 Challenges & Reforms

• Performance Issues: In 2022, President Samia Suluhu Hassan criticized NARCO for underperformance — particularly too much reliance on private-owned cattle and not enough government-owned.

• Privatization & Reform:

  • In the 1990s, NARCO was under consideration for privatization; however by 2002 it pivoted to a hybrid model: core ranches maintained by NARCO, while other blocks leased to investors.

• Governance & Oversight:

  • The March 2025 Kalambo directives show ongoing government scrutiny in enforcing compliance and financial obligations.

👥 Leadership & Community Engagement

• Management Team: The MD is Mohamedi Zuberi Mbwana, and the Board is chaired by Dr Aziz Ponary Mlima.

• Stakeholder Relations:

  • NARCO actively works on leasing terms, investor training, and resolving farmer-rancher-pastoralist conflicts.

  • Engagements include livestock fairs (e.g., SabaSaba, NaneNane) and ongoing efforts to commercialize operations.

📊 Summary Table