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The 2024 Annual Tea Sub-Sector Stakeholders Conference

By Edward Charles March 26, 2024

CARE Tanzania continues to collaborate with the Tanzanian government, particularly through the Ministry of Agriculture, in transforming the tea sub-sector via the “Her Money, Her Life” project supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

On March 26th, 2024, Mr. Barnabas Mtelevu, Senior Project Manager, CARE Tanzania’s “Her Money, Her Life” project, participated in the “2024 Annual Tea Sub-Sector Stakeholders Conference” held in Dodoma. The event, themed “Seize the Opportunity, Accelerate the Development of Tanzania’s Tea Industry,” featured the esteemed presence of Hon. Hussein Bashe (MP), Minister of Agriculture, alongside Hon. Gerald Mweli, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, and Ms. Mary Kipeja, Director General of the Tea Board of Tanzania. Government officials, tea farmers, producers, exporters, and various stakeholders gathered to discuss challenges, opportunities, and innovative strategies to advance the tea sector.

Hon. Hussein Bashe announced the decision not to reduce the green leaf price for 2024, despite a significant drop in the international tea market. He also outlined strategies to address challenges in the tea industry, including strengthening legislation to ensure timely payments for smallholder tea farmers, facilitating the establishment of five tea processing factories and two tea blending factories annually, implementing irrigation systems for over 500 hectares in the Njombe Region, and empowering smallholder farmers to process and sell their tea directly at auctions.

Hon. Hussein Bashe (MP), Minister of Agriculture

In recognition of its contributions, CARE Tanzania was presented with the Shield Trophy by the Minister of Agriculture for supporting the 2024 tea sub-sector stakeholders’ meeting.

Mr. Barnabas Mtelevu, Senior Project Manager, Her Money, Her Life project receiving a trophy from Hon. Hussein Bashe.

CARE Tanzania remains committed to supporting smallholder tea farmers through the “Her Money, Her Life” project, which operates in the regions of Tanga, Njombe, Iringa, and Mbeya. This project has established over 2,060 active Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), with women comprising 70% of its 27,987 members. Collectively, these groups have amassed savings totaling TZS 4,980,207,658 (approximately USD 1.93 million), contributing significantly to the economic empowerment of women and smallholder farmers across the tea-growing regions.