THE Tea Board of Tanzania (TBT) has announced plans to invest in advanced technology factories that will help reduce production costs and increase the value of tea.

Beatrice Banzi, TBT Acting Director made the statement in Dar es Salaam yesterday during a meeting with a delegation from Japan. The delegation is in Tanzania to learn and exchange knowledge about tea cultivation.

The delegation, which arrived on December 7, will remain in the country until December 14, during which time they will visit various tea farms across the country.

At the meeting held at the Board’s offices in Dar es Salaam, Banzi highlighted the lessons they have learned from Japan regarding the use of modern technology to streamline agricultural work.

“We have observed that, due to a shortage of labour, they have started to innovate ways to carry out farm work without people, using industrial revolution technologies,” Banzi said.

She added: “What we expect from this meeting is an industrial revolution of our own, because while they lack manpower, we have it, but the challenge lies in the funds to pay workers. Therefore, it is better to use modern technological factories that can help reduce the cost of tea production, just as they do.”

She said that beyond industrial advancement, their expectations from the Japanese delegation also include improving the quality of tea produced in Tanzania in order to dominate both the domestic and international markets.

“Achieving this will help us expand the tea market,” she said.

Edna Chuku Economic Affairs Officer, Embassy of Tanzania in Japan who accompanied the delegation, emphasised the significant role the visit will play in the tea sector. 

She noted that the delegation had brought with them two major tea companies from Japan: Kawasaki Kiko and Nasa Cooperation. 

She further stressed that Tanzania would greatly benefit from effectively using their technology and expertise.

“The aim is to support the strengthening of economic diplomacy. Tanzanian tea needs to improve its competitiveness, much like coffee in Japan, and through this meeting, I see that we are heading in the right direction,”Chuku said.

She said the arrival of the delegation will bring positive developments, as they have shown a genuine interest in investing in Tanzania’s tea sector. 

Given that Japan lacks a large workforce and their production is limited due to their geography, they are seeking markets in various countries, with Tanzania being one of them.

TBT Marketing Manager, Selemani Chillo, said that the tea market situation is improving, with new markets already opened in Oman, and plans to expand further, with a visit to Saudi Arabia next week.

“We have invited the Japanese to Tanzania to explore various tea opportunities and learn from their technology, which can be used here to add value to tea and expand the market,” he said.

Gaelle Lagrouas, a representative from Nasa Cooperation, expressed her excitement about visiting Tanzania and seeing the vast potential in the tea sector. She promised to collaborate in expanding and promoting the market.

The visit by the Japanese delegation is a follow-up to a visit by the Tanzania Tea Board to Japan in July this year where used the opportunity to invite the Japanese to Tanzania for knowledge exchange.