TEA processors in the country have appealed to the government to reduce the high cost of packaging materials, citing its impact on production expenses and competitiveness in both local and global markets.

Speaking during World Tea Day commemorations in Dodoma yesterday, processors said packaging remains one of the most costly components in tea processing. Kassu Issa, business and marketing manager at Afri Tea and Coffee Ltd said: “Packaging materials are very expensive.” 

“We urge the government to consider reducing the costs to help us compete better and keep production sustainable,” he said, emphasizing that tea industry has strong economic potential and that easing packaging costs would enable processors to scale up operations, increase earnings for farmers, improve consumer access and attract greater investment.

Issa also encouraged Tanzanians to support locally processed tea products that meet quality standards certified by the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS), cautioning against the use of unregulated and traditionally prepared tea that could pose health risks.

Nasoro Nasibu, marketing officer at A.K Confectionary Ltd, urged the government to introduce tea education in schools. He said educating children on the benefits of tea consumption could help shape healthier habits and promote domestic tea industry.

Nasibu also called for tighter control of informal tea production, warning that unregulated products can endanger public health due to lack of quality assurance. The remarks come amid ongoing efforts to boost competitiveness and value addition in Tanzania’s agriculture-based sectors, with tea being a key export and source of employment.