Regional Markets

Regional Markets for Local Development
TAHA is a member-based organisation representing producers, exporters, processors,
service providers and small grower groups in the horticultural sector of Tanzania. It
was established in 2004 with the main objective of promoting the horticultural industry
and making it more competitive, viable, profitable and ultimately sustainable. Since
its establishment TAHA has made remarkable strides towards upgrading the industry
and addressing the common cross-cutting issues that erode the industry’s competitive
advantage. TAHA has been an effective platform for discussion of industry issues, acting
as a bridge between various stakeholders.
In the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania, TAHA works with both urban and rural small-,
medium- and large-scale farmers to improve household incomes through increased
vegetable production and employment. By taking advantage of the decent road infrastructure
in the region as well as the proximity of several international airports, TAHA
was able to establish a profitable export-oriented enterprise.
The structure of TAHA
The association undertakes four primary types of activities: (1) lobbying and advocacy
(local government and relevant line ministries, e.g. the Ministry of Agriculture, the
Ministry of Finance, etc.); (2) provision of technical support to its members; (3) promotion
of the horticulture sector abroad and seeking out foreign direct investments
(FDI) opportunities; and (4) dissemination of market information to members and
other stakeholders. TAHA offers three categories of membership: comprehensive,
allied and associate. Comprehensive members are large-scale farmers, exporters and
processors with an annual turnover of at least TZS 100,000,000 (EUR 50,000). The
members in this category have a single vote in the general assembly (one member, one
vote). There are about 25 comprehensive members, who each pay a membership fee of
TZS 1,000,000 (EUR 500). Allied members are service providers to the horticulture
industry, for example, chemical and fertiliser companies, financial services and extension
services. This category has a voting right in the general assembly to choose a board
member. There are about 45 allied members, and their individual fee is TZS 500,000
(250 Euros). Associate members are smallholder farmers, who may participate as part
of a farmer’s group or as individuals. There are about 174 groups of smallholders (representing
about 16,000 farmers) and about 45 individual farmer members. They also have
rights in the general assembly along the ‘one member, one vote’ principle, and pay TZS
50,000 (EUR 25) in annual membership fees.
The board reports to the Annual General Meeting, where all members come together
to discuss the performance of the year that has passed and to plan the association’s
strategy for the next twelve months. When preparing strategies, the General Assembly
is divided into two groups, one with comprehensive and allied members while small-
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