Tanzania is bracing to become self-sufficient as far as seed production is concerned with the country now growing 79 percent of all the kernels used in the nation’s agricultural sector.
The director of crop development in the Ministry of Agriculture, Enock Nyasebwa Chimagu, pointed out that Tanzania’s dependency on imported seeds has been reducing with each year.
“We are now producing 78.6 percent of the kernels used in the country, because we produce 71,356 tons of agricultural seeds as per fiscal year 2023/2024,” said Nyasebwa.
On the other hand it has been revealed that Tanzania intends to spearhead horticulture as the country’s reliable vehicle towards achieving the nation’s future agricultural development goals.
The Deputy Minister of State, President’s Office, Planning and Investment, Stanislaus Nyong’o revealed here that since horticulture employs mostly women and the youth, it was also the right sector for creation of employment, boosting Tanzania’s exports as well as ensuring the country’s food security.
“Horticulture grows at the rate of 11 percent annually, while the entire Agricultural sector moves at the rate of 12 percent, which goes to show the potential of the former,” the Minister maintained.
The two officials were speaking at the Nduruma, Ward of Meru District during the occasion to officially inaugurate the expansion project for the Enza Zaden, the organic seeds growing farm in Arusha, an outfit which develops high quality kernels for export.
It was also pointed out during the event that the horticulture sector in Tanzania has an export value of 668.7 billion/- from the total production of 175,000 tons of produce shipped overseas in the current fiscal year and counting.
The Horticultural sector in Tanzania has an export value of 668.7 billion/- from the total production of 175,000 tons of produce shipped overseas, compared to 340 billion/- in exports value recorded in 2021.
On the other hand, Enza Zaden is an international vegetable-breeding company which develops over 30 different new vegetable varieties, including lettuce, sweet peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers and onions.
The Arusha establishment employs more than 400 people, mostly women and youth.
The envoy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Tanzania, Ambassador Wiebe de Boer said Enza Zaden is an exemplary Dutch company which makes the country proud with over 3,000 employees, more than 45 subsidiaries and three joint ventures in 26 countries.
“We are therefore happy that the Netherlands company is now working with Tanzanians to achieve the goal of feeding the world healthily,” said the Ambassador.
The fresh vegetable seeds establishment with over 85 years in operation produces and sells the kernels of greens all over the world, with Enza Zaden being credited for growing and supplying nearly twenty billion heads of lettuce from their farms.
The Chief Executive Officer of Enza Zaden, Jaap Mazereew revealed that vegetables seeds produced by the establishment provide meals to over 100,000 million people.
“Today we operate in 26 countries, employing over 3,000 people and 1,000 of them working in research projects. Lots of studies are being undertaken because it takes about seven to ten years, to develop a new vegetable variety,” he said.
“Enza Zaden is proud to work with our colleagues of more than 3,000 employees, who share the company’s dedication in this mission to feed the world,” added Mazereew.
As we look into the future, we see growth potential everywhere, with certainly also in Africa recognizing that by the year 2050 over 25 percent of the global population will be living in Africa, therefore our work here has become significant,” he said.
The Enza Zaden Operations Manager, Gerald Matowo said their products strictly adheres to the Good Seed and Plant Practices (GSPP) which is an international, transparent business chain system, ensuring that the production site’s quality management system, work methods and information supply comply with the GSPP standard.
“The Arusha farm is also strategically placed in the area with ample fresh water, good sunlight and accessibility in terms of its proximity to the airport for rapid shipment of produce abroad,” said Matowo.
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