Local mango producers have outlined challenges that according to them need immediate measures if they are to compete at international levels and improve their livelihood or even government coffers.

The views were aired out in Dar es Salaam over the weekend by Jackson Siame who is a member of the Association of Mango Growers (Amagro). Who listed some of the huddles as, limited capital access, diseases and pests, market information, dependency on rain and lack of localised research.

He believes that, were the nation to improve the value chain analysis of mango production such that all support systems and supply chains were identified, then they could be an increase in value addition of products which inturn means more revenue.

Closing training on mango fruit value addition in Dar es Salaam recently, the Regional Commissioner Said Meck Sadick, revealed that up to 40 percent of mango harvests are wasted due to lack of preservative methods.

Offering a solution, he promised cooperation with its members in establishing a small processing plant. Amagro has 152 members operating some 2650 acres of mango farms in 12 regions of Tanzania mainland.