Arusha. The first-ever container loaded with avocados grown in Tanzania arrived in China on Monday, a key moment in what industry captains hope will be a financial jackpot for farmers and exporters, significantly enhancing their business prospects.
The maiden shipment, containing 24 metric tonnes of the Hass avocado variety, worth $18,500, was shipped by sea on October 28, 2024, and arrived at Hong Kong Port on November 18, 2024.
The breakthrough is the result of a joint effort between Africado Ltd, a pioneering Tanzanian avocado company and member of the Tanzania Horticultural Association (Taha), along with international partners such as Westfalia South Africa and the Chinese company Mr Avocado.
According to Africado’s Certification Manager, Mr Festus Nkuru, the container went through Chinese customs inspections smoothly, heralding a major commercial success for the industry.
“As we speak our first ever container loaded with Tanzanian avocados arrived at Mr Avocado’s South China Ripening and Distribution Center and the butter fruits are set to be distributed across retail supermarkets” Mr Nkuru noted.
For six years, Tanzanian authorities and Taha have been working closely to open the Chinese market to Tanzanian avocados. Africado, Tanzania’s largest avocado grower and exporter, is known for its vast operations.
Recognised as a leading producer in the region, Africado’s expertise in avocado cultivation becomes the first company to export premium-quality avocados to China.
“As we celebrate our first shipment of avocados to China, we are thrilled to mark this significant milestone for our company and Tanzania’s avocado industry,” said Mr Nkuru, highlighting the growth potential this market holds for local producers.
Africado Ltd, targets to meet the growing demand for high-quality Tanzanian avocados, contributing to its broader goals of international expansion and tapping into the rising global appetite for premium butter fruit.
The giant firm acknowledged the central role of the Tanzanian government, the Ministry of Agriculture Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticides Authority (TPHPA), Taha and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), whose collaborative efforts facilitated the opening of this lucrative new export market.
Mr Nkuru said that the breakthrough not only boosts Africado’s position as a leading exporter, but also provides significant economic opportunities for local growers, promising higher returns and supporting Tanzania’s broader economic growth.
“As Tanzania’s largest grower and pioneer in the avocado industry, Africado Ltd, is optimistic about the economic multiplier effects of this development on both the company and the country’s agricultural sector” he explained.
During President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s inaugural state visit to Beijing, Tanzania and China signed a crucial protocol on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements. This landmark agreement, reached during her engagement with Chinese President Xi Jinping, facilitates the entry of Tanzanian-grown avocados into China’s vast market, often referred to as the “butter fruit.”
China’s increasing demand for avocados, fueled by a growing health-conscious middle class, has transformed this once-unrecognized fruit into a prominent player in the imported fruit market.
Taha CEO, Ms Jacqueline Mkindi sees it as a significant opportunity for local farmers and exporters while strengthening bilateral trade ties between the two nations, has embraced this development.
Ms Mkindi expressed her gratitude to the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Hussein Bashe, for his tireless efforts in liaising with Tanzania’s Embassy in China.
His work has been instrumental in ensuring that local companies meet the necessary standards to obtain SPS clearance. She also noted that China’s decision aligns with its broader strategy to rebalance trade by increasing African imports, fostering a mutually beneficial relationship with the resource-rich continent.
With over 1.4 billion people, China, the world’s 10th largest avocado importer, is poised to become a leading destination for Tanzanian avocados.
Previously, Tanzanian producers struggled to penetrate international markets mostly limited to Europe and the Middle East due to a lack of necessary SPS measures.
As the third-largest avocado producer in Africa, after South Africa and Kenya, this new market access represents a significant advancement.
“I am deeply thankful and proud of our President, Dr. Samia, for her exceptional diplomacy, opening up this lucrative market of a 1.4 billion population nation after six years of continuous efforts,” Ms Mkindi remarked.
The initial push to access China’s vast market began in 2018 when Taha identified its potential and urged the government to deploy diplomatic strategies to overcome trade barriers.
This initiative also aligns with Tanzania’s national goal to boost horticultural export value to $2 billion annually from the current $420 million.
Moreover, it promises substantial employment opportunities for youth and women throughout the value chain by 2030.
Official data from 2023 indicates that Tanzania exported 26,826.3 metric tonnes of avocados, generating approximately $73 million in revenue, showcasing the industry’s promising trajectory towards exponential growth between 2023 and 2033.
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Tanzania Declares Marburg Outbreak – Africa CDC Mobilizes Immediate Response
Addis Ababa, January 20, 2025</Strong> — Tanzania has declared a Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak after confirming one case and identifying 25 suspected cases in the Kagera Region of Northwestern Tanzania. The Marburg virus, a highly infectious and often fatal disease, is similar to Ebola and is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and monkeys. This outbreak marks the nation’s second encounter with the deadly virus, following the outbreak in Bukoba District of Kagera Region in March 2023, which resulted in nine cases and six deaths.
In response to this urgent threat, the Africa CDC is mobilizing strong support to help Tanzania contain the outbreak. A team of twelve public health experts will be deployed as part of an advance mission in the next 24 hours. The multidisciplinary team includes epidemiologists, risk communication, infection prevention and control (IPC), and laboratory experts to provide on-ground support for surveillance, IPC, diagnostics, and community engagement.
The Director-General of Africa CDC, Dr. Jean Kaseya, has engaged with Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the Minister of Health to ensure coordinated efforts and secure political commitment for the response.
“Africa CDC stands firmly with Tanzania in this critical moment. To support the government’s efforts, we are committing US$ 2 million to bolster immediate response measures, including deploying public health experts, strengthening diagnostics, and enhancing case management. Building on Tanzania’s commendable response during the 2023 outbreak, we are confident that swift and decisive action, combined with our support and those of other partners, will bring this outbreak under control,” Dr. Kaseya stated.
Africa CDC has recently supported efforts to enhance the diagnostic and sequencing capacity of public health laboratories in Tanzania. PCR Test kits and genomic sequencing reagents have been dispatched, with additional supplies in the pipeline. To ensure rapid identification and confirmation of cases, the institution will also provide technical assistance to strengthen detection and genome sequencing for better characterization of the pathogen. Additionally, support will be provided to improve case management protocols and enhance the capacity to deliver safe and effective treatment.
Africa CDC is committed to working closely with the Government of Tanzania, regional partners, international organizations, and global stakeholders, including the World Health Organization, to stop the spread of the Marburg virus.
Source: allafrica.com
Britam half-year net profit hits Sh2bn on higher investment income
Insurer and financial services provider Britam posted a 22.5 percent jump in net earnings for the half-year ended June 2024, to Sh2 billion, buoyed by increased investment income.
The rise in half-year net profit from Sh1.64 billion posted in a similar period last year came on the back of net investment income rising 2.5 times to Sh13.27 billion from Sh5.3 billion.
“We are confident in the growth and performance trend that Britam has achieved, supported by its subsidiaries in Kenya and the region. Our business is expanding its revenue base while effectively managing costs,” Britam Chief Executive Officer Tom Gitogo said.
“Our customer-centric approach is fueling growth in our customer base and product uptake, particularly through micro-insurance, partnerships, and digital channels.”
The investment income growth was fueled by interest and dividend income rising 34 percent to Sh9.1 billion, which the insurer attributed to growth in revenue and the gains from the realignment of the group’s investment portfolio.
Britam also booked a Sh3.79 billion gain on financial assets at a fair value, compared with a Sh1.8 billion loss posted in a similar period last year.
The increased investment income helped offset the 12.7 percent decline in net insurance service result to Sh2.13 billion in the wake of claims paid out rising at a faster pace than that of premiums received.
Britam said insurance revenue, which is money from written premiums, increased to Sh17.8 billion from Sh16.6 billion, primarily driven by growth in the Kenya insurance business and regional general insurance businesses, which contributed 30 percent of the revenue.
The group has a presence in seven countries in Africa namely Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, Mozambique, and Malawi.
Britam’s insurance service expense hit Sh13.6 billion from Sh11.3 billion, while net insurance finance expenses rose 2.6 times to Sh12.3 billion during the same period.
“Net insurance finance expenses increased mainly due to growth in interest cost for the deposit administration business driven by better investment performance. This has also been impacted by a decline in the yield curve, which has led to an increase in the insurance contract liabilities. The increase has been offset by a matching increase in fair value gain on assets,” said Britam.
Britam’s growth in profit is in line with that of other Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed insurers, which have seen a rise in profits.
Jubilee Holdings net profit in the six months increased by 22.7 percent to Sh2.5 billion on increased income from insurance, helping the insurer maintain Sh2 per share interim dividend.
CIC Insurance Group posted a 0.64 percent rise in net profit to Sh709.99 million in the same period as net earnings of Liberty Kenya nearly tripled to Sh632 million from Sh213 million, while Sanlam Kenya emerged from a loss to post a Sh282.2 million net profit.
