From The Arusha News – Reporters in Dodoma
The Nane Nane agricultural exhibition ground at Themi, Arusha, is set for significant facelift to bring it to international show standards.
It joins other regional showgrounds earmarked for similar upgrade, including Lindi, Mbeya, Morogoro, Simiyu, Shinyanga, Tabora regions and the national-level venue in Dodoma.
The Minister for Agriculture, Mr Hussein Bashe, announced the plan during the Nane Nane Show climax in Dodoma last week, saying the government was committed to modernising agricultural exhibition facilities nationwide to attract more participants, enhance the quality of displays and align with global best practices.
The move follows a directive issued by President Samia Suluhu Hassan during the 2022 Nane Nane national-level celebrations, which were held in Mbeya.
“The upgrading will take into consideration ecological factors and the goal is to ensure agriculture and livestock investors benefit from year-round exhibitions,” said Mr Bashe. He added that the Dodoma and Mbeya Nane Nane showgrounds are already undergoing extensive changes with the remaining six to follow soon.
The planned redevelopment in Arusha will impact a number of families who have built homes, parking facilities and small businesses in and around the showgrounds.
During the recent national Nane Nane celebrations held at the Nzuguni grounds in Dodoma from August 1–8, 2025, Minister Bashe detailed the transformation programme. The facelift will include paved internal roads, perimeter walls and secure gates, modern conference and meeting halls and reliable water and sanitation systems.
Other features will be technology demonstration zones for agricultural innovations, upgraded exhibition stalls with improved infrastructure, permanent demonstration farms for crop and livestock development, as well as visitor facilities such as rest areas, food courts and parking spaces, among others.
“This initiative will ensure that all Nane Nane grounds meet international standards, creating an enabling environment for farmers, agribusinesses and innovators to showcase their products and services effectively,” Mr Bashe said.
