Boost for horticulture as ATCL launches direct cargo flight to China

ARUSHA: THE launch of direct cargo flights by Air Tanzania to Guangzhou represents a transformative development for Tanzania’s horticultural industry, offering vital access to the growing Chinese market.

On January 12, this year, Air Tanzania’s inaugural direct cargo flight from Dar es Salaam to Guangzhou successfully landed in China, marking a new chapter for Tanzania’s multi-million-dollar horticultural sector.

The Boeing 767 freighter, with a capacity to carry 54 tonnes and a flight range of up to 10 hours without refuelling, is seen as an ideal solution for providing Tanzanian horticultural export ers with fast and reliable logistics.

Commenting, Tanzania Horticultural As sociation (TAHA) Chief Executive Officer, Dr Jacqueline Mkindi, called the new cargo flight a game-changer for exporters seeking quicker, more reliable access to China, which has become an increasingly important market for Tanzanian horticultural exports.

“This flight opens up abundant opportuni ties for exporters of horticultural crops and perishables,” Dr Mkindi explained.

“It connects us to a market that was once unconventional but is now highly competitive, especially for products like avocados.” Dr Mkindi also emphasised Guangzhou’s strategic role as a major distribution hub for avocados within China, noting that the new route is crucial for helping Tanzanian farmers meet the growing demand.

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“The Boeing 767 freighter offers competitive rates and ample cargo space, making it an ideal option for exporters aiming to tap into the Chinese market,” she said.

The new flight supports President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan’s ongoing efforts to open new markets for Tanzanian-grown avocados, with the goal of transforming the country’s horticultural industry into a major foreign exchange earner.

In December 2024, Air Tanzania received approval from China’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAAC) to begin direct flights from Dar es Salaam to Guangzhou, marking a significant milestone in Tanzania’s efforts to boost avocado exports.

This follows the successful arrival of a container of Tanzanian-grown organic avocados in China on November 18, 2024.

Together, these milestones signal a major turning point for Tanzania’s horticultural sector, offering fresh opportunities for local farmers and ex porters.

“The faster transport times will ensure that Tanzanian avocados reach Chinese consumers in optimal condition, benefiting local farmers and providing fresh produce to Chinese consumers,” Dr Mkindi said.

Before the direct flight, transporting avoca dos by sea took up to 22 days, with shipments of 24 metric tonnes travelling from Mombasa through Hong Kong to China.

In contrast, the direct flight from Dar es Salaam to Guangzhou takes just over 12 hours, dramatically reducing delivery times to just one day.

Dr Mkindi also expressed her gratitude to development partners such as TradeMark Af rica (TMA) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), whose support has been crucial in facilitating access to international markets.

“This partnership is helping create a brighter future for Tanzania’s agricultural sector,” she said. This strategic development also strength ens economic ties between Tanzania and Chi na, with the potential to position Tanzania as a key player in the global avocado market.

For Tanzanian farmers, the new direct flight presents a crucial opportunity to access new markets and grow their businesses.

As anticipation builds, stakeholders from both coun tries are hopeful that this collaboration will foster sustained economic growth.

Dr Mkindi also thanked Tanzania’s Minis ter for Agriculture, Mr Hussein Bashe, for his tireless efforts in ensuring Tanzanian business es met China’s sanitary and phytosanitary stan dards, paving the way for this breakthrough.

With a population of over 1.4 billion, China—currently the 10th -largest importer of avocados globally—is poised to become one of Tanzania’s leading export destinations for fresh avocados, traditionally shipped to Europe and the Middle East.

Despite being Africa’s third-largest avocado producer, after South Africa and Kenya, Tanzanian farmers have struggled to access export markets due to the lack of SPS measures, especially for the Chinese market.

“I’m deeply grateful to President Samia Suluhu Hassan for her diplomatic leadership, which has opened the lucrative Chinese market for our avocados after six years of persistent efforts,” Dr Mkindi said.

The push to enter the Chinese market began in 2018 when TAHA first identified its potential.

Since then, the government has worked tirelessly to remove barriers, culminating in this landmark achievement.

Dr Mkindi highlighted that the president’s vision aligns with Tanzania’s national strategy to boost horticultural exports to 2 billion US dollars annually by 2030, up from 420 million US dollars today.

This goal could create thousands of new jobs, particularly for women and youths, within the horticultural value chain.

As Tanzania’s avocado industry enters a new chapter, this breakthrough opens exciting opportunities for growth, trade and internation al collaboration.