THE Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA) has unveiled five avocado collection points in Njombe Region.Anthony Mtaka, the regional commissioner, said at the launch over the weekend that the collection points are designed to streamline avocado aggregation, reduce post-harvest losses and enhance export efficiency.

The launching, coinciding with the TAHA 20th anniversary reinforces its role in modernizing thre horticulture sector, backed by Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).

Also backed by TradeMark Africa (TMA) and Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the initiative directly benefits more than 2,000 smallholder farmers.

Each collection point is projected to handle 20 to 50 metric tons of avocados at any moment, consolidating produce for quality assurance and direct access to international markets. he said.

He hailed the centers as a lifeline for farmers, urging stronger public-private partnerships to sustain that investment, hinting that the country must meet global standards and price its products competitively.

The collection points are being initiated as the country’s avocado exports surge—up 33 percent in 2023/24 to 35,627 tonnes, earning 252.3bn/-, more than double the revenue two years ago, he stated.

Dr. Jacqueline Mkindi, the TAHA CEO, emphasized that the initiative goes beyond infrastructure, incorporating farmer training, financial literacy, gender inclusion and nutrition to transform livelihoods.

“It’s about lifting millions into prosperity,” she said, crediting partners SIDA, AGRA and TMA for their vital support.

TAHA expects that the country will surpass its 2030 avocado production target of 250,000 metric tons, based on current trends. Market access has expanded to China, India, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, aided by trade shows like the Fruit Logistica in Berlin early February.

Dr. Hussein Mohamed Omar, the Agriculture deputy permanent secretary, praised TAHA’s alignment with national goals under “Agenda 10/30,” which aims for 10 percent annual agricultural growth.

The collection points complement other sector investments, including four avocado processing plants set up via public-private partnerships to boost value addition, he said.

TAHA subsidiaries play a key role, where TahaFresh supports cold chain logistics and Greencert enables international certifications. Over 6,000 farmers have achieved global good agricultural practices (GAP) and similar certifications, unlocking premium export markets, he stated.

In Njombe, Greencert helped an avocado company and 700 farmers earn certification, advancing quality assurance and export readiness.

For farmers like Erasto Ngole at Itulike village, the collection points offer stability and growth as farmers will have a reliable market and better prices. “These centers are a game-changer,” he asserted.

Since its founding in 2004, when horticultural exports were pegged at $100m, TAHA has grown to represent over 6.5m farmers and helped raise exports to $569m annually, peaking at $780m before the pandemic.

Through partnerships and advocacy, TAHA has built a thriving commercial agriculture ecosystem—transforming Tanzania’s horticulture sector from potential to performance, the RC underlined.