Mbeya Region

Mbeya serves as Tanzania's Southern Highlands agricultural hub—producing arabica coffee, tea, cocoa, and pyrethrum on volcanic soils at 1,700 meters elevation, earning the nickname "Scotland of Africa." The region supplies 40% of national maize and hosts expanding wheat farms. The SAGCOT Mbarali cluster links Mbeya and Songwe peasants to commercial agriculture. In 2024, 436 farmers were certified under PFSS food safety standards with solar-powered cold chain innovations. The strategic position near Malawi and Zambia makes Mbeya a trade gateway for landlocked neighbors—combining highland fertility with transit economy.