Starting as the first professionally managed agricultural effort, the sisal industry of Tanzania is among the longest-lasting. Initiated in 1893 by Dr. Richard Hindorf, a German Agronomist, sisal quickly became the largest-scale agricultural and primary processing industry in Central Africa, with its influence reaching Kenya, Mozambique, and Angola. Tanzania saw the industry’s highest productivity in 1964, yielding 234,000 tons of sisal from regions including Tanga, Morogoro, Coast, Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Singida, Iringa, Mwanza, Shinyanga, Mara, Mtwara, and Lindi, covering nearly the entire country.

The sisal industry has had significant economic impacts on Tanzania, being the top foreign currency contributor up until the 70s and the biggest employer, providing over a million permanent and temporary jobs. Sisal has the unique distinction of making Tanzania the world’s top producer, known for its superior quality.