Tanzania Sets Sights on Horticulture for Future Agricultural Development
Tanzania is poised to make horticulture a key driver of its agricultural development goals, with the sector showing immense potential for job creation, export growth, and food security. According to Deputy Minister of State in the President’s Office (Planning and Investment), Mr Stanislaus Nyong’o, horticulture is a vital sector that predominantly employs women and youth, making it an attractive area for investment.
Speaking at the inauguration of the expansion project for Enza Zaden, an organic seeds growing farm in Arusha, Mr Nyong’o highlighted the sector’s growth rate, saying, “Horticulture grows at an annual rate of 11 per cent, while the entire agricultural sector grows at 12 per cent, highlighting the potential of the former.” The farm, which develops high-quality kernels for export, is a significant player in Tanzania’s horticulture industry.
The horticulture sector in Tanzania has seen significant growth, with an export value of 668.7 billion Tanzanian shillings (approximately $290 million USD) from a total production of 175,000 tonnes of produce shipped overseas in the current fiscal year. This represents a substantial increase from the 340 billion Tanzanian shillings ($145 million USD) recorded in 2021.
The Director of Crop Development in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Enock Chimagu, noted that Tanzania’s reliance on imported seeds has been decreasing year by year. “We now produce 78.6 per cent of the kernels used in the country, having produced 71,356 tonnes of agricultural seeds in the fiscal year 2023/2024,” he said, praising Enza Zaden for its contributions to horticultural seed production.
Enza Zaden, a Dutch company, is a major player in Tanzania’s horticulture industry. Ambassador Wiebe de Boer, envoy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Tanzania, described the company as “exemplary,” employing over 3,000 people with more than 45 subsidiaries and three joint ventures across 26 countries. Jaap Mazereew, Chief Executive Officer of Enza Zaden, revealed that the company’s vegetable seeds provide meals for over 100 million people worldwide.
The company’s Operations Manager, Mr Gerald Matowo, emphasized Enza Zaden’s commitment to quality, stating that their products adhere to Good Seed and Plant Practices (GSPP), ensuring compliance with international standards. With its focus on horticulture, Tanzania is well-positioned to achieve its agricultural development goals, and partnerships with companies like Enza Zaden will be crucial in driving growth and success in the sector.
