Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Exaud Kigahe, has called on foreign investors to prioritize value addition and packaging solutions as key strategies to address the growing issue of post-harvest losses in Tanzania.
Speaking at the opening of the 9th Agro-Food Packaging International Trade Exhibition in Dar es Salaam on January24, 2025, Kigahe underscored the importance of tackling post-harvest losses, a significant challenge for the country’s agricultural sector.
The event attracted investors from 17 countries, including Kenya, South Africa, Italy, China, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Turkey, Japan, Egypt, Jordan, and France, among others.
Kigahe acknowledged the efforts of President Samia Suluhu Hassan in promoting trade, which has resulted in increased agro-production, particularly in the poultry sector. However, he pointed out that the key challenge now lies in post-harvest management.
“Investing in value chains and packaging solutions is crucial to reducing these losses,” Kigahe explained, urging investors to explore opportunities to establish factories focused on these areas.
The Minister also emphasized that Tanzania’s business environment has become increasingly investor-friendly, offering a gateway to the broader East African and Southern African Development Community (SADC) markets, which together encompass a population of over 400 million people.
Oscar Kisanga, CEO of the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture (TCCIA), highlighted the exhibition as a vital platform for knowledge-sharing and networking. He also pointed out its importance in identifying untapped opportunities in agriculture and poultry—two sectors with substantial growth potential.
Post-harvest food loss (PHL) remains a critical issue for food security in Tanzania, with approximately 50 percent of fresh fruits and vegetables spoiling before reaching the market. Additionally, nearly 25 percent of rice and maize are lost due to inadequate post-harvest infrastructure.
Addressing these losses through investments in value addition and packaging solutions is seen as a crucial step towards enhancing food security and strengthening Tanzania’s agricultural sector.
