Private sector lobby hails Tanzania’s $2 billion horticulture export target
Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Horticultural Association (Taha) has commended the government for prioritising horticulture in the 2025/26 agricultural budget, positioning the sector as a driver of economic growth, exports, and employment.
Taha CEO Jacqueline Mkindi praised Agriculture Minister Hussein Bashe for recognising horticulture’s role in increasing agricultural exports.
The government aims to raise agricultural exports from $1.2 billion to $5 billion by 2030, with horticulture expected to contribute $2 billion annually.
To reach this target, the government plans to improve productivity, cut post-harvest losses from up to 40 percent to 5 percent by 2030, and create 3 million jobs for youth and women. It also aims to reduce imports of edible oils, wheat, and grains, and ensure full domestic supply of industrial raw materials.
Taha pledged to work with the government to achieve these goals, focusing on building shared-use facilities to boost market access.
Between 2020/21 and 2023/24, horticultural crop production rose from 7.3 million to 7.5 million tonnes. Avocado production increased from 149,340 tonnes in 2022/23 to an expected 195,162 tonnes in 2024/25. Exports grew from 26,826 tonnes worth Sh117.5 billion to an expected 35,627 tonnes worth Sh252.3 billion.
Oilseed production rose from 1.7 million tonnes to 2.1 million tonnes, with sunflower output up 154 percent to over 1.2 million tonnes.
To support exports, the Ministry of Agriculture and TPHPA are working with Taha to open markets for nine crops in 14 countries, including avocado, vanilla, pineapple, and cloves.
Taha is also operating the Nundu packing centre in Njombe and five avocado collection centres in the Southern Highlands, benefiting over 2,000 farmers.
Supported by SIDA, TradeMark Africa, AGRA, and the UK government, Taha’s export programmes have enabled Tanzanian firms to secure $12.6 million in deals at the Fruit Logistica 2025 fair. Recent UK tariff cuts on East African flowers are expected to further boost exports.
Crédito: Link de origem