President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been instrumental in expanding Tanzania’s avocado markets in China, India, and South Africa.
MOROGORO. TANZANIA has developed seed quality standards for key commercial tree crops produced nationwide, seeking to tap into the growing global markets for these products.
The newly established standards will enable local farmers to adopt use of improved seedlings, thereby producing tree crops that meet the stringent quality requirements of international markets.
Speaking exclusively to the publication the Director General (DG) of the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI) said the initiative is in response to the rising demand for Tanzanian tree crops abroad.
He identified the key tree crops covered by the established standards as avocado, sugarcane, tea, grapes, cashew, and palm oil.
“For example, President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been instrumental in expanding Tanzania’s avocado markets in China, India, and South Africa.
“This progress requires us to ensure the production of high-quality crops that meet international standards,” he explained.
Mr. Nyasebwa Chimagu
Expressing confidence in the country’s potential, the DG said that with the new standards in place, Tanzania is well-positioned to maximize benefits from the expanded and prestigious opportunities in the global tree crop markets.
To date, TOSCI has developed seed quality standards for at least 13 tree crop species, according to him.
“TOSCI’s work aligns with the government’s agricultural priorities, and we continue to set standards for more strategically important crops,” Chimagu added.
He also urged local agricultural scientists and breeders to intensify research and develop improved seed varieties.
He observed that this will ensure farmers across all agro-ecological zones have access to seeds that are well-suited to their specific environments.
In another development, TOSCI has registered a total of 4.6 million farmers across the country to the national maize seed subsidy scheme, the helpful initiative championed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan to boost production of the staple food crop in Tanzania.
The timely program, launched last agricultural season, has been tailored to roll out maize varieties and fertilizer to small- scale farmers in the country at subsidized prices, through the National Agricultural Input Voucher Scheme (NAIVS) with the goal of increasing food crop production.
According to Chimagu the state- owned institute was working to sensitize more farmers to register.
“The target, as set by the Ministry of Agriculture is to register at least 7 million farmers thus, we have task ahead to sensitize more farmers to register,” he said.
As of 2024/2025, the program includes direct subsidies on improved maize seeds and fertilizers, with the goal of boosting the agricultural sector’s contribution to the economy and improving food security.
According to Chimagu, the subsidized maize varieties being rolled out to the farmers under the program include the Open-Pollinated Varieties (OPVs), the Early-Maturing and Medium-Maturing Hybrid Seeds, as well as the Late-Maturing Hybrid Seeds.
Tanzania is the second-largest maize producer in Africa, achieving a record output of 11.7 million tonnes in the 2023/24 season, a significant increase from previous years.
About The Author
