Zanzibar: TAHA has conducted a stakeholders forum on 26th November in Unguja to collect and identify policy, legal and regulatory challenges affecting horticultural value chain practitioners in Zanzibar. This forum, attended by 30 value chain actors included Producers, Marketers, suppliers, service providers (Agro inputs and financial institutions), Processors, and Hoteliers. Speaking during the stakeholder’s forum, TAHA Zanzibar Coordinator, Carolyne Mlewa informed the meeting that TAHA has been the main Government focal point on matters horticultural development in the Isles, with the Government also playing its role in the decision making as they are sitting in TAHA’s main board and the board for the oversight of TAHA’s horticultural development activities. “With the unity of horticulture stakeholders in Zanzibar, together we can enable a good business environment for horticulture value chain actors and transform and open doors for regional and international markets of horticulture products, “said Carolyne. On her part, the Livelihood Project Officer from Milele Zanzibar Foundation attributed high input prices to multiplicity of taxes and levies urging the government to consider reviewing this in order to spur horticultural development in Zanzibar even further. Over the years, TAHA has been a catalyst for transformative change in the agriculture policy landscape, in both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar. The success of the horticultural industry greatly depends on a strong business enabling environment, including supportive policies and comprehensive infrastructural and other macroeconomic investments.
