By Alfred Zacharia
The Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Exaud Kigahe, has called on foreign investors to prioritize value addition and packaging solutions to address the rising challenge of post-harvest losses in Tanzania.
Speaking at the opening of the 9th Agro Food Packaging International Trade Exhibition in Dar es Salaam, Kigahe stressed the importance of tackling post-harvest losses, which continue to hinder the country's agricultural potential.
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.
Kigahe highlighted the efforts of President Samia Suluhu Hassan to foster trade growth, particularly in the poultry sector, which has seen a notable increase in agro-production.
However, he acknowledged that effective post-harvest management remains a significant challenge.
"Investing in value chains and packaging solutions is key to reducing these losses," Kigahe emphasized, urging investors to explore opportunities to establish factories focused on these areas.
He also pointed out that Tanzania's increasingly investor-friendly business environment presents opportunities to tap into the broader East African and Southern African Development Community (SADC) markets, collectively home to over 400 million people.
Oscar Kisanga, CEO of the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture (TCCIA), highlighted the exhibition's role as a crucial platform for knowledge exchange and networking.
He emphasized its importance in uncovering untapped opportunities in agriculture and poultry—two sectors with significant growth potential.
Post-harvest food loss (PHL) remains a major food security concern in Tanzania, with nearly 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.
Tackling these losses through investment in value addition and packaging solutions is seen as an essential step towards improving food security and strengthening the country's agricultural sector.
