Business Development Services

TAHA Business Development Services (BDS) Department plays a pivotal role in accelerating the growth and competitiveness of Tanzania’s horticulture sector. 

Operating under the collaboration of key public and private sector institutions, including financial institutions, government agencies, other business enablers and development programs, the BDS Department serves as a critical enabler for Horticultural value chain actors – farmers, input suppliers, processors, aggregators, and buyers/off-takers.

TAHA offers the following BDS supports to members

01

Provides tailored advisory services on business planning, financial management, marketing strategies, and business management.

02

Supports startups and emerging agribusinesses through coaching and mentorship programs.

03

Organizes trade fairs, business-to-business (B2B) events, and market research to identify and exploit new market opportunities and provide linkages to members.

04

Offers technical and business skills training to farmers, agro-processors, and other horticultural SMEs.

05

Facilitating access to finance through assisting Horticultural enterprises in developing bankable proposals and providing linkage to accessing credit from financial institutions.

06

Works closely with financial institutions, MFIs, SACCOs, and agribusiness loan schemes to improve financial inclusion in the horticulture value chain by tailoring financial products favoring HC actors

Through these functions, TAHA BDS Department significantly contributes to increased farmers productivity, reduced post-harvest losses by enhancing value addition, enhanced market access, and improved incomes for value chain actors. 

It acts as a bridge between producers and service providers, helping to transform horticulture into a commercially viable and sustainable sector.

Impacts of TAHA BDS Department

In the year 2024, the BDS department contributed significantly in boosting the development of Horticulture businesses by facilitating access to affordable loans, providing capacity building on entrepreneurship, providing mentoring and coaching, facilitating exchange learning and market access.

Business Development Services Activity Impacts
  • A total of 1.3 billion was accessed by 156 Horticulture farmers through TADB, Equity and Azania bank (955 million in Zanzibar, 402 million in mainland) 132 million accessed by 20 Horticulture actors through farmers entrepreneurship training B|U|S entrepreneurship competition.
  • Improved business performance, more than 50 businesses and start up business supported, over 500 – Youth employment in Horticultural enterprises.

  • Strengthening capacity of Horticultural farmers, traders, processors and aggregators on business management, entrepreneurship and financial management over 3000 HC actors capacitated, 50% youth, 60% women More than 100 business plans supported