ZANZIBAR, Jan. 7 -- IN the rice paddies of Kibonde Mzungu, early morning mist clings to the surface of flooded fields while farmers set to work transplanting seedlings. For these families, rice is more than a crop, it is central to food security, tradition and income.

Yet, despite their dedication, Zanzibar still cannot produce enough rice to feed its own people. Rice is the most important staple food in Zanzibar. It features on the table of nearly every household and provides a significant portion of daily calories for island residents.

But the local rice sector has long struggled to keep pace with demand, forcing the semi-autonomous archipelago to rely heavily on imports from Tanzania mainland and beyond.

According to recent agricult...