Morogoro: Tanzania’s Emerging Spice Powerhouse

Kilimokwanza.org Reporter

In a remarkable stride towards becoming a key player in the global spice market, the Morogoro Region of Tanzania has achieved a significant milestone by producing 2,000 tonnes of cloves, valued at a staggering 36 billion Tanzanian Shillings (/-) in 2023. This achievement not only marks Morogoro’s prominence in the mainland’s spice industry but also underscores the region’s vast agricultural potential.

Musa Ally Musa, the Morogoro Regional Administrative Secretary, announced this impressive feat yesterday, highlighting that this quantity represents half of the total cloves produced in Zanzibar. The cultivation of these cloves, centered in the Morogoro District Council, signals a burgeoning interest among smallholder farmers across Morogoro Rural, Kilombero, Mvomero districts, and Mlimba District Council to venture into spice production.

“Our region is blessed with climatic conditions and fertile soil ideally suited for spice cultivation. We’re witnessing an exceptional opportunity to produce a variety of spices efficiently while adhering to global standards,” Musa elaborated during a stakeholder meeting in the spice industry.

This development is part of Tanzania’s broader ambition to establish itself as a major producer of not just cloves, but also cinnamon, cardamom, lemongrass, and pepper on the world stage. The nation’s efforts are supported by the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzanian (SAGCOT), which plays a crucial role in coordinating and mobilizing agri-finance from private sector partners with interests in the spice and horticultural sectors.

The recent inclusion of Tanga Region as a prospective clove producer adds to the momentum, given its similar climatic conditions to Zanzibar, where cloves thrive in hilly areas. This similarity suggests a promising future for clove cultivation in mainland Tanzania’s hilly regions, mirroring the successful growth patterns observed in Zanzibar’s Pemba and Tumbatu Islands.