The cut-flower industry in Tanzania, a slow progress agricultural practice

FLOWER-growing in Tanzania or (Floriculture) is a new activity practiced in the northern highland zones, mainly in Arusha, and Kilimanjaro regions where the climate is favourable.

The industry is also growing in Southern highland zones with regions of Mbeya and Iringa and in central plateau region which includes Dodoma and Singida, while the coastal zone includes the eastern part of Tanga, Dar es Salaam, the coast regions and the Uruguru Mountains in the Morogoro region.

Flower industry and its impact on national economic development and local communities in Tanzania has taken advantage of the opportunity afforded by export diversification in relation to the pros and cons of the industry, paying particular attention to local communities that have adopted this new undertaking.

Being an agricultural activity, flower growing has the advantage of being a natural adjunct to more traditional exports, while the availability of ready markets in developed countries provides powerful financial incentives.

The horticultural industry in Tanzania has developed mainly in the highlands with a conducive climate and flourished in areas which have relatively easy access to the market. The central plateau and coastal zone also have a potential for the horticultural industry.

Despite the good growing conditions around Arusha and Moshi in the north, there has not been as much horticultural development in Tanzania. The grower association (TAFA) is not very active and there is no relevant regulatory industry authority. Drought and high temperatures are the main impediments of the flower growing.

As the cut-flower industry is new in the country, the Lake zone (Mwanza and Kagera) also has potential for horticultural crops. However, the country has not much to show in terms of actual horticultural products to be presented to the international market.

Horticulture is considered as Tanzania’s most dynamic and high-value agricultural sector which earns the country a substantial amount of foreign exchange earnings.

According to the Executive Director of Tanzania Horticulture Association Ms. Jacqueline Mkindi, some varieties like red giant and first red are having black rims on their heads due to excessive temperatures and this affects directly flower prices.

According to her, horticultural products export earnings in most growing regions such as Arusha and Kilimanjaro increased from US$ 16 million in 2005 to US$ 20 million as for August 2007. Arusha exports an average of 50 tones of flowers per week, and in Tanzania, about 6,000 tones of flowers are exported annually.

Tanzania is strategically located between 1° and 12° south of the equator, thus it commands an enviable tropical climate to accommodate the production of a wide range of fruits, vegetables, spices, and flowers, both tropical and temperate.

Some of the crops can be produced throughout the year and the majority are highly seasonal, consumed at farm level with a potential for local and export markets. Land suitable for horticulture is spread throughout the country and only 5 per cent is exploited. The field survey covers 12 flower farms in northern Tanzania.

Performance

The flower industry has experienced tremendous growth since its inception in 1987 with the establishment of the Tanzania Flowers Limited (TFL). The company started with the cultivation of cut flower/foliage such as Carnations, Euphorbia and Ami Majus.

All production activities were done in the open fields, rather than indoors under greenhouse conditions, a trade-off between capital investment and quality of the end product being involved. In 1992, however, TFL started intensive commercial production of roses indoors.

Initially, 6,000 sq. meters of greenhouses were constructed which has expanded to 36,000 sq. meters at the present time. A further tripling of the areas is planned. The switch to greenhouses was rewarded by gains in productivity as well as profitability and the entry of real investors (both foreign and local) in the industry.

By 2006, 12 farms were involved in the production of flowers in their horticultural farms and exports in the country. Some of these are, Hortanzia, Tanzania Flowers Ltd, Kiliflora, Kombe Roses, La Fleur d’Afrique, Arusha Cutting and Multiflower.

Others are Continental Flowers, Loliondo and Steeco systems in the Arusha region, and Florissa in the Kilimanjaro region.

The management structure of most of these farm companies are composed of boards of directors, managing directors, managers, supervisors and workers. The supervisors and workers are the implementers of the decisions.

Most farms, by the very exigencies of the crop, have to be efficiently organized to ensure timely production of the type of flowers demanded in the international markets. Moreover, flowers are susceptible to pests and diseases and highly perishable, requiring management in planting, spraying, harvesting, grading and packaging.

Production and quality types

The production of cut-flowers is both capital- and knowledge-intensive, but due to high yields and high prices two hectares under greenhouse may be commercially viable. Per hectare, greenhouses employ many more workers than does a typical traditional farm.

Due to the extreme sensitivity of the product professional management and constant vigilance is needed during all phases of growing, packaging and shipping.

Because fresh cut-flowers do not undergo any processing between harvesting and sale, they enjoy a peculiar regulatory status in the importing countries and growers are essentially producing a finished product.

Cut-flowers sold in international markets often retain the identity of the individual grower, and growers who can successfully differentiate their products can attain profit levels far in excess of other agricultural products.

Cut-flowers are an agricultural imports which are pest free to avoid introduction of plant diseases or insects. But because they are not an edible crop, they are exempted from regulations on pesticide residues and hence are not inspected for residues.

Roses are the dominant export flowers produced and exported in Tanzania, contributing more than 75 per cent of the total cut-flower production. More than ten different varieties of roses are produced. In Tanzania flowers other than roses can be grown at low altitude high temperature climates such as the coastal belt in Tanga, Dar es Salaam and Mtwara.

Water and irrigation systems

Floriculture like any other agricultural industries is a farming operation that use the most efficient means of farming irrigation, and in this case, water is a key input. If roses go without water for 24 hours, replanting may be necessary and this is expensive.

Farms are therefore located in areas where water supply is assured. Deliberate steps are taken (through reservoirs, boreholes, etc.) to ensure that water availability is at least twice as much as demand at any time. Sources of water include springs, rivers and boreholes.

Drip irrigation is the system most commonly used, being the most efficient available. Six farms uses drip irrigation while the remaining two uses overhead sprinklers. The sources of water are boreholes, springs and rivers such as Usa and Nduruma in Arusha region.

Planting materials and chemicals

Seeds and cuttings are the planting materials most commonly used. All planting materials are imported. Frequency of use depends on weather and flower variety. Complaints abound that most of the chemicals used in the flower industry have not been registered under the Tropical Pesticides Research Institute (TPRI) and their availability is a problem.

Only three companies are registered importers of some chemicals – Balton Tanzania Limited, By-trade (T) and Tri-Chem. An outbreak of diseases commonly finds the registered companies out of stock.

The intensive focus on floriculture has Potential to produce scientific benefits. New studies of the industry may be poised to produce vital knowledge about the occupational and environmental health that effects of agricultural chemicals.

The cut-flower industry in Tanzania has exploded in recent years and pesticide poisoning has become so common according to statistics made available by the International Labour Organization (ILO).

The ILO’s report quotes that, although statistics on pesticide use in the floriculture industry in Tanzania is rare, the industry is known to be using a wide range of chemicals including fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, nematocides and plant growth regulators some with potential for serious harm to human health.

The report cited few deficiencies in pesticide handling as due to shortage or lack of materials safety data sheets and instruction materials, worker ignorance of identification hazards of chemicals

Workers need to use protective gear against chemicals. These are uniforms/overcoats, masks, sunglasses, boots, gloves and respirators or ,sprayers, slide rules (for measuring stem height), trolleys, etc, are provided for particular tasks. At the Horticulture Farm workers are provided with special jackets.

Production problems

The study has identified the following production problems in the cut-flower industry: Poor infrastructure (feeder roads).Unavailability of chemicals. Low international prices. Lack of research and development on the industry to the extent that even small problems need seeking solutions from abroad.

Inadequacy of land in the case of some farms which necessitates the replacement of crops. Inadequacy of investment and insufficient working capital. Scarcity of experts and over-dependency on expatriate consultants.

Too much rainfall – for example El Niño – causes an outbreak of fungal diseases such as downy mildew and botrytis and the flooding of greenhouses. High temperatures cause the over-ripening of flowers and hence negatively affect quality. Too much wind wears out the roofing materials of greenhouses, causing the scorching of flowers.

Another problem is basing on the transport, Floriculture is deteriorating at a gateway available through Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) and to the proximity of the Jomo Kenyatta International airport in Kenya, due to a limited space in the air cabin. There are few planes at the moment

Employment

The sector appears to make intensive use of female labour. It is quite evident that it has created new jobs for women and provided additional income-earning opportunities for field research and case studies were carried out on cut-flower growers who have significantly altered their local production and employment base by entering the cut-flower export market.

Cut-flower production employs 2,347 workers from surrounding villages, the majority (57 per cent) being women, their jobs being harvesting, grading and packing. Men spray, irrigate and do similar manual tasks.

Employment is categorized into four groups – management, skilled labour, casual labour and others (especially the consultants engaged in the maintenance of cooling machinery, extension and quality control services, and marketing).

Local communities have benefited from increasing incomes. Inter-regional migration has been encouraged from Singida, Dodoma, Tanga and Kilimanjaro. Coffee farmers in the Arumeru district of the Arusha region have sold/leased their farms to foreigners for cut-flower production.

Most employees come from the surrounding areas with Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Singida, Tanga and Dodoma being the major sources. Seven farms indicated that most of their labour force came from Arusha and Kilimanjaro.

This implies that the labour market allows mobility of workers to the cut-flower industry. These workers are sufficiently adaptable and flexible to respond to changing requirements of the workplace and to enhance the competitiveness and growth of the industry.