APPP Background Paper 2. The investment and business environment for export horticulture in northern Tanzania

Abstract

Cut rose exports from Tanzania to the Netherlands began in 1989. Since then, chrysanthemums and other flowers, cuttings, seeds, fruit and vegetables have joined the list of produce air freighted to Europe through Kilimanjaro, Nairobi and Dar es Salaam airports. This report focuses on the commercial flower, cuttings and seed companies (\'export horticulture\'). There are fifteen or so companies growing flowers, flower cuttings and seeds for export. In addition, five companies export vegetables, vegetable seeds, and fruit. The report does not deal with smallholder horticulture, except where there are synergies between the two parts of the industry, for example concerning air freight. The study consists of a literature review, web trawls, and semi-structured interviews with key industry stakeholders in the Arusha-Moshi area in December 2009, and a brief second round of follow-up interviews in June 2010. The study builds on ethnographic work undertaken by Kelsall et al. in 2004-05 and is based on Terms of Reference drawn up in September 2009