DODOMA: THE Tanzanian Horticultural Apex body – TAHA has pitched plans to host HortiLogistica Africa 2026, a continental horticulture exhibition slated for November 2026 in northern Tanzania.
The proposal was presented in Dodoma yesterday by TAHA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Jacqueline Mkindi to Agriculture Minister Daniel Chongolo and Investment Minister Kitila Mkumbo, alongside senior government officials.
Dr Mkindi in her presentation she said, the event would mark the first time Tanzania stages an exhibition of that scale focused exclusively on horticulture — a subsector that has become increasingly central to the country’s export diversification strategy.
Horticulture — spanning fruits, vegetables, flowers and spices — is among Tanzania’s fastest-growing agricultural segments.
Unlike traditional bulk commodity exports, horticultural produce typically commands higher margins and integrates more directly into global retail supply chains.
Dr. Mkindi described the expo as a strategic inflection point for both Tanzania and Africa’s broader fresh produce industry.
“Beyond many other benefits, the exhibition will unlock investment opportunities, expand domestic and international market access, attract tourists, and strengthen public–private collaboration,” she said.
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Northern Tanzania, identified as the proposed host region, already serves as a nucleus for commercial farming and export logistics, with established cold-chain networks and proximity to key air-cargo routes.
Industry analysts say leveraging that ecosystem could reduce execution risk while amplifying investors confidence.
The pitch comes at a time when African countries are intensifying efforts to capture greater value from agricultural exports rather than relying solely on raw commodity shipments.
Trade fairs increasingly function as deal-making platforms — linking growers, exporters, financiers and technology providers in ways that can catalyze long-term capital flows.
TAHA says HortiLogistica Africa 2026 would integrate the full value chain, from production and post-harvest handling to logistics and market access.
The objective is to strengthen supply reliability, meet international phytosanitary standards and enhance price competitiveness.
For Tanzania, success would not only raise export volumes but also signal institutional readiness to host large-scale business convenings — an intangible yet critical factor in attracting foreign direct investment.
Minister Chongolo reaffirmed the government’s commitment to partnering with the private sector to boost productivity, expand value addition and sharpen global competitiveness.
In his part, Prof Mkumbo framed the proposal within Tanzania’s broader development blueprint, emphasizing job creation and increased agricultural contribution to gross domestic product.
Still, staging a high-profile continental exhibition requires more than policy endorsement.
Infrastructure coordination, trade facilitation efficiency and regulatory predictability will likely determine whether the event translates into sustained export contracts or remains largely symbolic.
With roughly nine months to prepare, the initiative now hinges on effective public–private coordination — and on Tanzania’s ability to convert horticulture’s growth narrative into measurable gains in market share.
For TAHA, the calculus is clear: in an era of supply-chain realignment and heightened food security concerns, positioning Tanzania as a reliable horticultural gateway to African and global markets could yield dividends well beyond a single exhibition.