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 Confirms Outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease
Dodoma — Tanzania today confirmed an outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the northwestern Kagera region after one case tested positive for the virus following investigations and laboratory analysis of suspected cases of the disease.
President of the Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, made the announcement during a press briefing alongside World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in the country’s administrative capital Dodoma.
“Laboratory tests conducted in Kabaile Mobile Laboratory in Kagera and later confirmed in Dar es Salaam identified one patient as being infected with the Marburg virus. Fortunately, the remaining suspected patients tested negative,” the president said. “We have demonstrated in the past our ability to contain a similar outbreak and are determined to do the same this time around.”
A total of 25 suspected cases have been reported as of 20 January 2025, all of whom have tested negative and are currently under close follow-up, the president said. The cases have been reported in Biharamulo and Muleba districts in Kagera.
“We have resolved to reassure the general public in Tanzania and the international community as a whole of our collective determination to address the global health challenges, including the Marburg virus disease,” said H.E President Hassan.
WHO is supporting Tanzanian health authorities to enhance key outbreak control measures including disease surveillance, testing, treatment, infection prevention and control, case management, as well as increasing public awareness among communities to prevent further spread of the virus.
“WHO, working with its partners, is committed to supporting the government of Tanzania to bring the outbreak under control as soon as possible, and to build a healthier, safer, fairer future for all the people of Tanzania,” said Dr Tedros. “Now is a time for collaboration, and commitment, to protecting the health of all people in Tanzania, and the region, from the risks posed by this disease.”
Marburg virus disease is highly virulent and causes haemorrhagic fever. It belongs to the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly. Patients present with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. They may develop severe haemorrhagic symptoms within seven days.
“The declaration by the president and the measures being taken by the government are crucial in addressing the threat of this disease at the local and national levels as well as preventing potential cross-border spread,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Our priority is to support the government to rapidly scale up measures to effectively respond to this outbreak and safeguard the health of the population,”
Tanzania previously reported an outbreak of Marburg in March 2023 – the country’s first – in Kagera region, in which a total of nine cases (eight confirmed and one probable) and six deaths were reported, with a case fatality ratio of 67%.
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In the African region, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda.
Marburg virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials. Although several promising candidate medical countermeasures are currently undergoing clinical trials, there is no licensed treatment or vaccine for effective management or prevention of Marburg virus disease. However, early access to treatment and supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms, improve survival.
Source: allafrica.com
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Tanzania Declares End of Marburg Virus Disease Outbreak
Tanzania today declared the end of Marburg virus disease outbreak after recording no new cases over 42 days since the death of the last confirmed case on 28 January 2025.
The outbreak, in which two confirmed and eight probable cases were recorded (all deceased), was the second the country has experienced. Both this outbreak, which was declared on 20 January 2025, and the one in 2023 occurred in the north-eastern Kagera region.
In response to the latest outbreak, Tanzania’s health authorities set up coordination and response systems, with support from World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, at the national and regional levels and reinforced control measures to swiftly detect cases, enhance clinical care, infection prevention as well as strengthen collaboration with communities to raise awareness and help curb further spread of the virus.
Growing expertise in public health emergency response in the African region has been crucial in mounting effective outbreak control measures. Drawing on experience from the response to the 2023 Marburg virus disease outbreak, WHO worked closely with Tanzanian health authorities to rapidly scale up key measures such as disease surveillance and trained more than 1000 frontline health workers in contact tracing, clinical care and public health risk communication. The Organization also delivered over five tonnes of essential medical supplies and equipment.
“The dedication of frontline health workers and the efforts of the national authorities and our partners have paid off,” said Dr Charles Sagoe-Moses, WHO Representative in Tanzania. “While the outbreak has been declared over, we remain vigilant to respond swiftly if any cases are detected and are supporting ongoing efforts to provide psychosocial care to families affected by the outbreak.”
Building on the momentum during the acute phase of the outbreak response, measures have been put in place to reinforce the capacity of local health facilities to respond to potential future outbreaks. WHO and partners are procuring additional laboratory supplies and other equipment for disease detection and surveillance and other critical services.
Marburg virus disease is highly virulent and causes haemorrhagic fever. It belongs to the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly. Patients present with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. They may develop severe haemorrhagic symptoms within seven days.
In the African region, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda.
Source: allafrica.com
