Tanzanian Potential Entrepreneurs are gifted with enormous opportunities in the country’s Agricultural sector. Seeds & Nuts production and exporting/processing, Fruits and Vegetables production and exporting/processing, Spices production & exporting/processing are just few of the hugely filled up basket of business opportunities.
1. Oilseeds & nuts production and processing/exporting
Tanzanian potential entrepreneurs can grab this opportunity by producing/processing/exporting the three most precious oilseeds endowed in their country. These are Sesame, Sunflower and Soybeans. Local and world demand of these oilseeds is on the rise. Tanzania is among the top five countries that produces highest volume of sesame.
This means that all importing countries of sesame, Japan being the largest importer, understands and recognizes sesame produced in the country. The product has already created a brand for itself. It is upon the potential entrepreneurs to grab the opportunity fiercely.
As an alternative to oilseeds, nuts such as cashew nuts, groundnuts/peanuts, can be used in the same manner of producing oil. Nuts have one extra advantage that they are used as snacks. Consumption of nuts as snacks dates back in the ancient ages.
Tanzania produces about 120,000 tons and is considered one of the best quality cashews in the world and is in the top 10-world producer countries. Value addition and processing of raw cashew is lagging behind in the country and capacity building in this sector is necessary. So it is up to potential entrepreneurs to grab the opportunity and play part in value addition.
2. Fruits & vegetables production and processing/exporting
Tanzania is richly endowed with a large variety of fruits and vegetables. Less than 10% of fruits and vegetables produced are processed. There is room for large scale production of a range of tropical as well as temperate fruits and vegetables. The following are possible areas for investment:
=> Processing and canning factories in regions with high potential for production of fruits and vegetables.
=> Open fruit and vegetables plantations for domestic and export markets.
Potential areas for horticultural crops are Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Tanga, Morogoro, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Iringa, Mbeya, Mwanza and Kagera.
3 Spices production and exporting/processing
A wide range of spice crops are cultivated in Tanzania due to the existence of favourable climate and soil conditions.
The most important spice crops produced for the local and export markets are clove, pepper, chillies, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, coriander, vanilla, garlic, lemongrass and red onions.
In mainland Tanzania; Clove, pepper, cardamom and cinnamon are mainly produced in the Tanga, Morogoro and Mbeya regions.
Zanzibar and Pemba are the main areas for the production of clove. Ginger is grown in Kilimanjaro, Kigoma, Ruvuma, Morogoro, Kagera and Mbeya regions. Vanilla is produced mainly in Kagera and Kilimanjaro regions and to some extent in Morogoro region.
Chillies including paprika are important in Iringa, Mbeya, Arusha, Tanga, Coast, Morogoro regions and Zanzibar. Coriander is almost entirely produced in Singida region in the semi-arid central Tanzania.
Among the opportunities that potential entrepreneurs may grab include:
=> Establishment of spice production, processing and marketing infrastructure in the coastal and high altitude areas of Tanga, Cost, Mtwara, Lindi, Morogoro, Mbeya, Kilimanjaro, Kagera and Kigoma regions.
=> Establishment of spice processing and marketing infrastructure.
 Kessy Juma is the founder of Miamia Trading Company (miamiatz). He is a Techpreneur with roots in accountancy. He believes that any business is good as long it caters the right market using the right strategy. 
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