The Kilimanjaro Airports Development Company in Tanzania has been urged to expand storage infrastructure for horticulture-related produce at the Kilimanjaro International Airport to meet rapidly growing export demand.
The country’s deputy minister for transport, David Kihenzile, said such facilities would aid the storage of produce waiting to be exported as the government continued to improve foreign trade opportunities.
Kihenzile made the call during an official tour of the airport recently.
"The government continues to work towards creating a good business and investment environment that has led to the growth of international trade between Tanzania and other countries. This has increased exports of horticulture produce.
"So we must begin to strategise about how to increase storage of horticultural produce to avoid exporting these crops using other airports located outside the country due to lack of reliable storage facilities," he said.
Tanzania’s horticulture sector is growing rapidly and is on course to meet the goal of the country’s Tanzania Development Vision 2025 to reach a $3-billion annual export target for horticulture produce, up from $779 million in 2019 when the 2025 target was set.
The country exports its horticulture produce to Europe, the Middle East and regional African countries.
The main horticultural crops of Tanzania include tomatoes, cabbages, onions, carrots, round potatoes, mangoes, oranges and flower seeds.
