THE Tea Board of Tanzania (TBT) has brought together industry stakeholders to collaboratively discuss strategies aimed at addressing challenges hindering development of the subsector.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting in Dar es Salaam at the weekend, Beatrice Banzi, TBT acting director general, highlighted the key objective as to jointly establish 10-year development plan, covering the period from 2024 to 2034, to further grow tea industry.

The meeting brought together officials from the public and private sector, including the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade), Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA), cooperative unions and the Ministry of Agriculture.

Banzi said that some of the major challenges raised by stakeholders include power outages and inadequate infrastructure such as poor roads.

“We will also explore ways to enhance the quality of Tanzanian tea to secure its position in both local and international markets. Additionally, we aim to encourage Tanzanians to consume more tea, particularly locally produced varieties, as current consumption levels are low,” Banzi said.

“To achieve these goals, it is crucial for both government and private sector to work together and determine how they can collectively revive this industry,” she added. “Here, we are essentially creating a ‘road map’ to guide our direction. If increasing production is a priority, the relevant stakeholders involved in production will work together to determine the best way forward.”

Banzi emphasised that the discussions will serve as a blueprint to improve and implement strategies designed to uplift and sustain the tea industry over the next decade.

Additionally, she announced that the meeting also expected to unveil a new logo for Tanzanian tea, aimed at making it easily identifiable, even in international markets.

The initiative, according to her, is expected to play a key role in boosting the business of Tanzanian tea.