Harvesting sunshine:
WorldVeg Tanzania goes green with major solar investment

– 17 March 2026 –

Sunlight is set to power over half of the operations of the WorldVeg Eastern and Southern Africa regional office in Arusha, Tanzania, thanks to a major new investment in solar power.

The new installation, which features 128 solar panels, provides energy for the WorldVeg research laboratories and office buildings, as well as the cooling systems for seed storage at Africa’s Vegetable Genebank – the on-site WorldVeg crop conservation facility, which safeguards the largest collection of traditional African vegetables on the continent. 

The hybrid configuration prioritizes solar power, supported by battery storage. The system then draws electricity from the national grid or a generator only when needed, helping to lower carbon emissions and improving energy efficiency. 

The installation was commissioned in February 2026 through the Taiwan-Africa Vegetable Initiative (TAVI), a program supported by the Government of Taiwan to advance the conservation and utilization of traditional vegetables for sustainable food systems in Africa. The system can generate almost 80 KWh of electricity at peak output. It is complemented by a 100kWh hybrid inverter, and a 40kWh lithium battery. 

“With this solar installation in place, we anticipate that the Center’s electricity bill will come down by at least 50%,” said David Sarakikya, Regional Director of Finance and Human Resources at WorldVeg. “This is not only a sustainability milestone but also a smart financial decision that strengthens our long-term operational efficiency.”

Speaking on the significance of the investment, Baraka Mchala, Procurement Officer at WorldVeg, emphasized the broader vision behind the project:

“This project demonstrates our commitment to sustainable procurement and responsible resource management. It reflects our focus on solutions that deliver long-term environmental and economic benefits for the Center. By generating power from renewable sources, the WorldVeg Tanzania is setting an example of how institutions can transition to clean energy, while enhancing efficiency and resilience.”

As solar panels now capture the abundant Arusha sunshine, the World Vegetable Center is not only advancing agricultural research – it is helping to power a sustainable future.