DEPUTY Minister for Trade and Industry, Exaud Kigahe has called on foreign investors to focus on value addition and packaging solutions to tackle the growing issue of post-harvest losses in the country.

Speaking in Dar es Salaam yesterday at the opening of the 9th Agro Food Packaging International Trade Exhibition, Kigahe stressed the importance of addressing post-harvest losses, which are a significant challenge for the country. 

The event brought together investors from 17 countries across Africa and beyond, including Kenya, South Africa, Italy, China, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Turkey, Japan, Egypt, Jordan, and France to mention the few.

Kigahe pointed  efforts of President Samia Suluhu Hassan to boost trade, which has led to increased agro-production, particularly in the poultry sector. 

However, he acknowledged that the major hurdle now is post-harvest management.

 "Investing in value chains and packaging solutions will help reduce these losses," he explained.

He further encouraged investors to explore opportunities for setting up factories focused on packaging and value addition.

 He highlighted that Tanzania’s businesses environment have become increasingly investor-friendly, offering opportunities to tap into the wider East African and Southern African Development Community (SADC) markets, which collectively have a population of over 400 million people.

Oscar Kisanga, CEO of the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture (TCCIA), emphasized that the exhibition serves as an essential platform for knowledge-sharing and networking. 

He also noted that it plays a crucial role in exploring untapped opportunities in agriculture and poultry—two sectors that hold significant potential for growth.

Post-harvest food loss (PHL) remains a critical food security challenge in Tanzania, with approximately 50 percent of fresh fruits and vegetables spoiling before they reach the market.

 Additionally, nearly 25 percent of rice and maize are lost due to inadequate post-harvest infrastructure. 

Addressing these losses through investments in value addition and packaging is seen as a vital step towards improving food security and strengthening the agricultural sector in Tanzania.