This study examines how political incentives, institutional arrangements, and evolving development ideas have shaped Tanzania’s agricultural modernisation agenda and its contribution to structural transformation. It traces the evolution of agriculture–industry linkages across major political-economic regimes, analysing how shifts from state-led strategies to market-oriented and agro-industrial approaches have influenced policy priorities and implementation outcomes. In doing so, the study treats agricultural modernisation not simply as a sectoral objective, but as a core component of Tanzania’s broader development and transformation strategy. READ ON…!