Africa-Press – Tanzania. A NEW approach is needed to increase tea exports and earn foreign currency particularly US dollars, the government has declared.
Hussein Bashe, the Agriculture minister, issued this appeal when wrapping up the national tea industry stakeholders’ conference here yesterday, after it was noticed that the tea sub-sector lags behind other agricultural sub-sectors in production, despite having many farmers involved.
The minister demanded that the Tanzania Tea Board (TTB) form a team within 14 days to design a transparent business system between farmers and factories to ensure full visibility of operations.
The team should include farmers, government officials and the private sector, with additional responsibility of ensuring that factories and farmers register in the new tea production and processing format.
“If this is not done, the tea sub-sector will not move forward while farmers and traders are working in secrecy,” he stated, stressing that without the new format, progress in the tea sub-sector will not be achieved.
“I urge the board to ensure that factories are registered in the new system; if not, their licenses should be revoked,” he cautioned, reiterating the importance of forming the team as directed.
The minister also instructed the board to engage with operators of Watco tea factory to discuss possible purchase by the government, pointing at mismanagement and losses incurred by the buyer, after it was privatized.
If the owners are willing to cooperate with the board, the government was ready to take action, he said, expressing willingness to change the government’s position if the factory operators are open to meeting with the board and listening to their proposals.
“If not, the government will take over all the factories,” he declared, noting that the board had purchased three out of seven machines planned for acquisition during fiscal 2024/25.
This will help in addressing challenges in the market arising from the closure of Mohamed Enterprises Ltd (MeTL) and Marvella tea factories, he said, pointing out that as of March 25, 2025 tea sales had generated 50.25bn/- into the economy.
The board had also moved to access tea markets in Oman, Qatar, Dubai, Japan and Saudi Arabia, with Mponde Holdings factory signing a contract with Mumtaz Co. of Oman to supply 100 tonnes of tea per month right away, he added.
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