Dar es Salaam, Aug. 19 -- About two years ago, Professor Palamagamba Kabudi – as Minister for Information, culture, Arts and Sports – surprised many when he passionately spoke about agriculture instead.

Perhaps it was not entirely unexpected, considering he is also the Member of Parliament for Kilosa constituency in Morogoro, a region renowned for farming. Most memorable was his emphasis on the value of Tanzanian cocoa.

“Cocoa from Kyela is the best in the world,” he declared, recounting experiences from his international trips across Europe, which cemented this belief.

His words reminded me of how last year marked a defining moment for cocoa globally and particularly for the country. I remember vividly how, in ...