To further propel its avocado export industry, Tanzania has launched five new collection hubs in the Njombe Region. This initiative is led by the Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA) and celebrates its 20th anniversary. The project is supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), TradeMark Africa (TMA), and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). It’s set to directly benefit more than 2,000 smallholder farmers, who will gain access to improved aggregation points.
The collection hubs aim to enhance the country’s avocado export processes by addressing key issues like post-harvest losses. Regional Commissioner Anthony Mtaka highlighted the potential impact of these centers, which are designed to handle between 20 and 50 metric tons of avocados each. He underscored the importance of public-private partnerships in safeguarding these investments and ensuring Tanzanian produce remains competitive globally.
Tanzania has seen a remarkable rise in avocado exports, with the 2023/24 period marking a 33 percent increase. The country exported 35,627 metric tons of avocados, generating 252.3 billion Tanzanian shillings, a sharp rise from previous years. TAHA’s CEO, Dr. Jacqueline Mkindi, explained that the impact of this initiative goes far beyond building infrastructure.“It’s about lifting millions into prosperity,” she stated, pointing to the inclusion of farmer training, financial literacy, gender empowerment, and nutrition education as part of the program’s long-term impact.
TAHA projects that the country’s avocado production will far exceed its target of 250,000 metric tons by 2030, thanks to the opening of new markets in China, India, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. Trade events like Fruit Logistica in Berlin continue to be key in facilitating these global market connections.
Dr. Hussein Mohamed Omar, Agriculture’s Deputy Permanent Secretary, praised the alignment of TAHA’s efforts with Tanzania’s “Agenda 10/30,” a plan aiming for 10 percent growth in agriculture every year. The avocado hubs are part of broader investments in the sector, including the creation of four avocado processing plants through public-private partnerships to boost value-added products.
TAHA subsidiaries, such as TahaFresh and Greencert, play crucial roles in supporting farmers with logistical operations and certification for global export markets. More than 6,000 farmers have achieved good agricultural practices (GAP) certifications, and in Njombe, 700 farmers benefited from Greencert’s assistance in securing export-compliant certification.