Commercialization of the Tanzania's Food systems to catalyze growth and resilience

Mpango Maalum

Roots / Tubers

Mnyororo wa thamani na maelezo ya kina kuhusu mazao ya roots / tubers — Tier 3

Maelezo ya Jumla

Kuhusu Roots / Tubers

Mizizi na mihogo ni mazao muhimu ya chakula na biashara nchini Tanzania. Mazao haya ni chanzo kikubwa cha wanga na yanaweza kuhifadhiwa kwa muda mrefu chini ya ardhi.

Mnyororo wa Thamani

Mnyororo wa thamani unahusisha wakulima, wakusanyaji, wachakataji (unga, vifaranga) na wafanyabiashara.

Roots / Tubers

Kipaumbele Tier 3

Idadi ya Mazao 2

Jumla ya Mikoa 5+

Mazao

Maelezo ya Kina ya Mazao — Tier 3

Bonyeza zao kuona taarifa za washiriki katika msururu wa thamani

1. Input & Service Supply

Irish potato farmers rely on specialized input providers:

Seed producers & multipliers: Mtanga Foods Ltd (largest commercial seed farm, 1,200 tons output), Silverlands Ndolela Ltd, Tanzanice Agrofoods, Beula Seed Company.
Public research institutions: ARI-Uyole produces early generation seed (in-vitro, minitubers); TARI-Tengeru conducts potato research.
Fertilizer & agrochemical companies: Yara (fertilizers), Syngenta (agrochemicals), Kigani Agro (equipment demos).
Equipment suppliers: Grimme (German manufacturer supplying graders, planters, lifters, sorters to Mtanga Farm).
Development partners: CIP (International Potato Center), HZPC (Dutch seed potato breeder), Oserian Development Company (tissue culture from Kenya).

2. Production (Cultivation)

Potato cultivation is concentrated in the Southern Highlands:

Land preparation: Ploughing, harrowing, and ridge formation. Average farm size 0.5–20 acres (5–10 acres most common).
Planting: Seed tubers planted at the onset of rains. Varieties include Jelly, Rumba, Sagitta, Challenger, and Kikongo.
Crop management: Weeding, hilling, pest and disease control (late blight is a major constraint).
Harvesting: Manual or semi-mechanized. Yields average ~10 tons/ha but can reach 20+ tons/ha with good inputs.

Njombe District is the most important potato producing area — 18,800 hectares planted, 324,000 tons produced last season. Altitude of 2,940m provides ideal growing conditions.

3. Aggregation & Trading

Potatoes move from farms to markets through multiple channels:

Brokers/Middlemen: Dominate the market. Collect produce at farm-gate and transport to major markets (Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Arusha, Mwanza).
Local traders: Sell informal seed (small tubers from previous harvest) and ware at village markets.
Farmer cooperatives: USOWELU AMCOS and other farmer business groups organize collective marketing.
Direct sales: Some organized farmer groups supply directly to processors and supermarkets under contract farming arrangements.

Less than 1% of total seed requirement comes from certified/healthy seed sources. The informal seed system dominates, leading to low yields and disease buildup.

4. Primary Processing

Processing transforms raw potatoes into higher-value products:

Crisps manufacturers: Vin Mart Ltd (Jingles brand — largest), Crispo Snacks Foods (Iringa), Bingos (Dar es Salaam), Swagat Crisp Industry (20 tons/month), Macha Smart Crisps (28 tons/month), Rugantino Crisps Industries (33 tons/month).
Grading & sorting: Potatoes are washed, graded by size/quality, and packed for specific market segments.
Cold storage: Limited cold chain infrastructure; most potatoes are sold fresh within days of harvest.

Processors require consistent weekly supply and pay premiums for quality. They lack storage and need reliable year-round sourcing.

5. Distribution & Logistics

Transportation and distribution networks connect production zones to consumers:

Farm-to-market transport: Potatoes are transported by truck from the Southern Highlands to urban centers across Tanzania.
Cold chain: Limited refrigerated transport; most potatoes move in ambient conditions, leading to post-harvest losses.
Wholesale markets: Major urban wholesale markets in Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Arusha, and Mwanza serve as distribution hubs.
Export: Limited export activity; Hango Traders/Exporters has expressed interest in working with farmers for regional markets.

6. Retail & Food Service

Potatoes reach end consumers through diverse channels:

Supermarkets: Nakumatt Holdings (50 tons/month), Uchumi Supermarket, Shoppers (Mkuranga, Tanga, Kenya imports).
International fast-food chains: KFC Dar es Salaam (100 tons/month — currently imports frozen chips from Pakistan, seeking local suppliers).
Hotels: Best Western Premier (12 tons/month), Tansoma Business Hotel (20 tons/month), Akubu Hotel (4.5 tons/month).
Open markets & street vendors: Traditional markets and informal vendors sell fresh potatoes and fried chips to urban consumers.

7. Consumption

Irish potatoes are consumed in multiple forms across Tanzania:

Fresh consumption: Boiled, fried, or roasted potatoes are a staple side dish in households and restaurants.
Fried chips/chipsi: Street food favorite across urban Tanzania; served with grilled meat, fish, or eggs.
Crisps/snacks: Packaged potato crisps (Jingles, Bingos, etc.) are popular packaged snacks.
Institutional consumption: Hotels, schools, hospitals, and fast-food chains (KFC) are growing commercial consumers.
Industrial use: Limited but growing — starch extraction, animal feed from culls and processing waste.

Value Distribution Across the Chain

The economic value captured at each stage of the Irish potato value chain:

38%Farmers

18%Traders & Brokers

24%Processors

20%Retailers

Brokers and middlemen dominate market access, capturing a significant portion of the value. Farmers selling through informal channels receive the lowest prices. Organized farmer groups and contract farming arrangements can improve farmer margins.

Value Chain Flow

Input Suppliers Farmers Traders / Brokers Processors Wholesalers Retailers Consumers

Wadau

Wadau Wakuu katika Mnyororo wa Thamani wa Viazi

Mashirika na kampuni muhimu katika sekta ya viazi nchini Tanzania

Seed Producers & Multipliers

Company	Details
Mtanga Foods Ltd	Only modern commercial seed potato farm in Tanzania. 1,200 tons output from minitubers. Supplies Southern Highlands (Njombe, Iringa, Mbeya) to 1,000 buyers serving 10,000–20,000 farmers. Two greenhouses. Tissue culture from Oserian (Kenya). Equipped with Grimme grader, planter, lifter, sorter. 1,200 MT seed storage. Varieties: Jelly, Rumba, Sagitta.
Silverlands Ndolela Ltd	Registered seed dealer. Varieties: Challenger, Jelly, Rumba, Sagitta.
Tanzanice Agrofoods Co. Ltd	Seed potato multiplier. Registered dealer for Jelly, Rumba, Sagitta.
Beula Seed Company	Seed potato multiplier. Contact: Zabron Mbwaga (beulaseed@gmail.com).
ARI-Uyole	Public institution producing early generation seed (in-vitro, minitubers). Developing QDPM scheme with private multipliers. Finland-funded program with CIP.
TARI-Tengeru	Research institution. Contact: Emanuel V. Laswai (Emmanuelz2812001@yahoo.com).
Rotian	Registered seed dealer for Sagitta variety.

Processors (Crisps & Chips)

Company	Location	Details
Vin Mart Ltd (Jingles)	Dar es Salaam	Largest crisps manufacturer in Tanzania. Brand: Jingles.
Crispo Snacks Foods (T) Ltd	Iringa	Medium-scale crisps processor (had stopped operations before 2015 survey).
Bingos	Dar es Salaam	Medium-scale crisps processor.
Swagat Crisp Industry	—	Requires 20 tons/month, weekly supply. Contact: Mr. Rakesh (+2556844054954).
Macha Smart Crisps	—	Requires 28 tons/month, weekly supply. Contact: Smart (+255782151652).
Rugantino Crisps Industries	—	Requires 33 tons/month. Contact: sanjaymanek@hotmail.co.uk / +255787136136.

Ware Potato Buyers & Market Outlets

Buyer	Type	Requirement
Nakumatt Holdings	Supermarket	50 tons/month, weekly supply. Contact: Agnes Assey (+255682126071).
Uchumi Supermarket	Supermarket	200 kg/month from Mwanza/Mbeya suppliers.
Shoppers	Supermarket	Sources from Mkuranga and Tanga; also imports from Kenya.
KFC Dar es Salaam	Fast-food chain	100 tons/month. Currently imports frozen chips from Pakistan. Contact: Mr. Russel Ebenezer (+255783185621).
Best Western Premier	Hotel	12 tons/month, daily supply. Contact: Mr. Amit (+255714207080).
Tansoma Business Hotel	Hotel	20 tons/month, direct supply. Contact: Henrico Aidan (+255715955722).
Akubu Hotel	Hotel	4.5 tons. Contact: Ms. Fatima.
Hango Traders/Exporters	Trader/Exporter	Interested in working with farmers. Contact: Mr. Mohammed Hango (+255716303031).

Regulatory & Government Bodies

Organization	Role
TOSCI (Seed Certification Institute)	Certifies seed potato varieties. Formal certification implementation still in progress.
Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries	Government oversight of the potato sector.
TPHPA (Plant Health Authority)	Regulatory body for plant health. Contacts: Dr. Benigius Ngowi, Gabriel Maganga.
SAGCOT	Public-private partnership supporting seed sector. Works with Mtanga Farm, ARI-Uyole, Yara, Syngenta.

Input Suppliers & Service Providers

Organization	Role
Yara	Fertilizer supplier. Demonstration plots with SAGCOT for Kikongo varieties.
Syngenta	Agrochemical supplier. Demonstration plots with SAGCOT.
Kigani Agro	Demonstrates simple technologies and equipment with SAGCOT.
Grimme	German equipment manufacturer (graders, planters, lifters, sorters, tractors, sprayers).

Development Partners & Research

Organization	Role
International Potato Center (CIP)	Manages Finland-funded program to strengthen seed sector with ARI-Uyole.
HZPC	Dutch seed potato breeder. Contact: Feico Born (Feico.born@hzpc.com).
Oserian Development Company Ltd (Kenya)	Supplies tissue culture plantlets to Mtanga Farm.

Key Production Regions

Region	Details
Njombe District	Most important potato district. 2,940m altitude. 200 farmers, 44 villages, 39,400 households. 18,800 ha cultivated, 324,000 tons produced.
Makambako District	1,700m altitude. 75% of 94,000 population are ware producers. 500 ha total, 0.5 acre avg farm size.
Mufindi District	500–600 farmers, 0.5–3 acre farms, ~10 tons/ha yield.
Mbeya, Iringa, Mwanza, Coastal (Mkuranga)	Additional production areas supplying urban markets.

Smallholder Farmers

Category	Details
Smallholder farmers	Dominate production. Plots 0.5–20 acres (5–10 most common). Main seed source is informal (tubers from previous harvest). Less than 1% of seed from certified sources.
Farmer organizations	USOWELU AMCOS and Farmer Business Groups organize collective marketing and contract farming opportunities.

Tanzania's Irish potato sector is dominated by smallholder farmers in the Southern Highlands. The seed system is largely informal (<1% certified seed), resulting in low yields. Growing demand from processors (crisps, fast-food chains like KFC) and supermarkets offers significant market opportunities for organized farmer groups.