TRADEMARK Africa (TMA) and the Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA) and yesterday signed a $2.1m (5.4bn/-) grant agreement to start the second phase of a market expansion project.

A joint statement by the two agencies issued here said that the grant was funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Norway and Ireland, spans three years and focuses on advancing market access.

It is also directed at promoting sustainable trade practices and empowering local farmers in the horticultural industry, the statement indicated.

Monica Hangi, TradeMark Africa's regional director for East and Central Africa and Anthony Chamanga, TAHA’s chief development manager signed the grant agreement.

It says that despite notable successes, the horticultural industry faces substantial challenges, like limited financial access, climate change impacts and inadequate market information, impeding growth.

Meeting these challenges needs both public and private sector efforts including policy support, research and development investment, as well as initiatives aimed at improving market and credit access for farmers, it elaborated.

Through TMA's concerted efforts, the partnership will tackle some of these challenges by establishing direct linkages between farmers and buyers, it stated.

It also hinted at leveraging digital solutions to improve market accessibility, enhancing market understanding through training, as well as addressing environmental and climate challenges.

The pact is intended to ensure compliance with international standards like global good agricultural practices (G.A.P) and the British retail consortium global standards, it further noted.

The TradeMark director extolled support for the horticultural sub-sector as a way to reduce unemployment among the youth and women.

"Our commitment through this substantial grant is to upscale production, increase export volumes, and thus job opportunities,’ she said, affirming that this will reinforce Tanzania’s standing in the global horticultural market.

The TAHA manager was enthusiastic about the project, describing it as a milestone in enhancing the global competitiveness of Tanzania's horticultural products.

“With TMA's support, we are poised to implement robust strategies that will lead to sustainable growth and substantial economic benefits for our local communities,” he declared.

Public and private stakeholders and the development partners will help TAHA advance the horticultural sub-sector in the Southern Agricultural Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) and northern growth corridors, accelerating the industry’s export growth, currently standing at around five percent, he explained.

Research conducted by various local universities and international organizations like the World Bank highlights the subsector's role in improving the livelihoods of rural populations.

Advancements in agricultural practices and technology have led to higher productivity, better crop quality, and increased farmer incomes, the studies indicate.

Elibariki Shammy, the TradeMark country director, said that phase two builds on the successes of the first phase, which saw substantial market linkages and certification achievements for local farmers, contributing significantly to economic growth.

 “Phase one of the project which ran from January 2019 to June 2023, yielded tangible results, with 27,854 farmers (35 percent women, 65 percent men, and 40 percent youth) linked to markets, and approximately 50,000 tonnes of horticultural products worth roughly 42.7bn/- ($18.3m) sold,” he said.

“The government's role in facilitating a conducive environment for growth, coupled with stakeholders' commitment to innovation and quality, will determine the future trajectory of this thriving sector,” he added.