Abstract:
The fall in the agricultural sector’s contribution to Tanzanian export earnings since the early
1990s has increased attention toward new crops with the potential of supplementing the
country’s traditional export crops. Particular attention has been focused upon identifying
crops enjoying price stability, high demand elasticity and low substitutability. Spices fall into
this category. Consequently there have been efforts by public agencies and private exporters,
both on the mainland and on Zanzibar, to promote the crop. However, access to high value
export markets raises issues of supply chain dynamics and conformity with international
standards. This paper focuses upon the recent history of the spice industry in Tanzania with
reference to these issues. The main conclusions are that Certified Organic standards are the
only international standards complied with, and that a very loosely coordinated chain exists
alongside a more coordinated one. Macro- and micro-institutional weaknesses need attention
if the full potential of the sub-sector is to be realized.
