ARUSHA, Tanzania, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania is working on a project aimed at addressing market challenges facing the horticulture sector, which employs millions of people in Tanzania, a senior official said on Tuesday.
Stella Manyanya, Deputy Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment said in the ongoing parliamentary session in capital Dodoma, that Tanzania is determined to help vegetable and fruit growers to have access to domestic and international markets through the project SECO-United Nations Trade Cluster Fund.
Under the project, the deputy minister said that Tanzania in collaboration with Switzerland government gather and disseminate market information to key players that includes prices, buyers, and availability of products.
"We are aware of the market challenges facing vegetable growers in the country. A number of trainings have been conducted in collaboration with the Tanzania Horticulture Association to equip farmers with modern farming techniques, so that they produce quality products that meet local and international standards," said Manyanya.
She said the ministry has been promoting investment in the food processing sector, whereby some factories have been constructed in Iringa and Mwanza regions.
Manyanya called on the municipal councils to consider providing the growers with soft loans as most of them face capital challenges.
According to her, the ministry is implementing an exercise to identify micro-entrepreneurs, both in the horticulture and other economic sectors. She said once identified, the micro entrepreneurs will be assisted with capital grants from the Small Industries Development Organization.
In 2016, Tanzania's horticultural production stood at around 6 million tonnes. The value of Tanzania's horticultural exports amounted to 24.4 million U.S. dollars in 2015.
