Tanzania has witnessed a notable surge in crop exports, marking a 9.5% increase from $2.1 billion in 2020/21 to $2.3 billion in the year to December 2023, as reported by the Ministry of Agriculture. This significant rise is primarily attributed to the robust performance of exports including coffee, tobacco, cashew nuts, rice, sesame, legumes, and horticultural produce, particularly avocados.
Agriculture Minister Hussein Bashe, in the 2023 performance review, revealed that avocado exports soared from 17,711.49 tonnes valued at $51 million in 2020/21 to 26,826.3 tonnes worth $77.3 million in 2023. These avocados found markets in the Netherlands, France, the UK, Spain, Belgium, Russia, Germany, Norway, South Africa, India, and the United Arab Emirates, with plans to expand to China in 2024.
The cotton sector experienced remarkable growth, with exports more than doubling from 32,608.8 tonnes worth $15.6 million in 2020/21 to 65,771.38 tonnes valued at $33.5 million in 2023. Additionally, coffee exports tripled from 25,084.14 tonnes valued at $44.1 million to 94,548.85 tonnes worth $170.2 million during the review period.
Tobacco exports also witnessed a substantial increase, reaching 32,587.29 tonnes valued at $142.4 million in 2023, compared to 8,376.8 tonnes worth $35.2 million in 2020/21.
Food crop production played a pivotal role in achieving self-sufficiency in Tanzania, with production increasing from 17,148,290 tonnes to 20,402,014 tonnes during the review period. The production of commercial crops, including cashew nuts, cotton, pyrethrum, coffee, tobacco, tea, sisal, sugar, and cocoa, rose from 983,177 tonnes in 2020/21 to 1,291,006.64 tonnes in the year to December 2023, marking a 31.3% increase.
The horticultural sector also thrived, with the production of flowers, fruits, spices, and vegetables increasing from 7,304,723 tonnes to 7,723,115.66 tonnes. Avocado production alone rose from 149,340 tonnes to 195,000 tonnes, positioning Tanzania as the third-largest producer of avocados in Africa.
In response to the review, Geoffrey Kirenga, the executive director of the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (Sagcot), emphasized the need to focus on increasing food crop production in areas with the necessary infrastructure. He also highlighted the importance of enhancing the production of leguminous crops and soybeans to minimize imports and the potential for doubling export volumes through improved productivity and value addition.
Furthermore, Kirenga urged the exploration of value-addition strategies for traditional export crops like cashew nuts and coffee, emphasizing the need for Tanzania to prioritize the production of spices such as cloves, cinnamon, black pepper, and ginger. Dr. Anna Temu, a lecturer at the Sokoine University of Agriculture, stressed the importance of adhering to international standards, maintaining reliability in production, and tapping into regional markets to maximize the industry's potential.