SPICES COULD MAKE ZANZIBAR RICHER

Ali Sultan

THERE is no doubt that Zanzibar leads the pace when it comes to world's spice business. Available data show that Zanzibar, the Indian Ocean archipelago was in the past a gateway of trading in the East and Central African regions.

The Isles later opened its doors to Europe and United States of America, a move which bought most of the spices produced in Zanzibar including cloves. As a case in point, the United States and Zanzibar once signed a trade agreement in 1837 as a major exporter of spices from Zanzibar such as red chilies and others.

This country is also known as "Spice island". Cloves, Zanzibar's main cash crop was introduced in the Isles in 1818, and flourished in the tropical climate and fertile soil of the western areas of both Zanzibar and Pemba.

By the middle of the century, the place was the world's largest producer of cloves, and the largest slave trading centre on the East African coast. Over time, several other spices such as cinnamon, cumin, ginger, pepper and cardamom were introduced. Their rich fragrance became synonymous with Zanzibar. With that strength of trading history, new entrepreneurs - young and energetic ones are emerging.

One of them is Khamis Salim who has recently established Tanzania Zanzibar Organic Producers (TAZOP) an established spice company, owned by this local young entrepreneur. Khamis Issa of Tanzania Zanzibar Organic Producers Ltd (TAZOP) is an exemplary local entrepreneur. He has established spice farms and is exporting spices across the globe.

Khamis's products are noticeable at shelves of many super markets in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Established in May 1999, TAZOP has engaged 250 small farmers from regions of mainland Tanzania of Morogoro, Tanga and Unguja and Pemba Islands to get his raw products before exporting spice products to final markets.

Khamis cited some of the spices being exported to international markets as - lemons peels, tangerines, rambutan, cloves, cinnamon, eucalyptus citrodora, and eucalyptus camedulensis. Located at Mwanakwerekwe, a few miles from the Zanzibar historic stone town, Khamis produces varieties of spices for both export and local use. The spices include clove, cardamom, black pepper, red curry, vanilla and nutmeg.

"This is organic farming. We produce organic products which are safe for human health", says Khamis. The moral side of TAZOP is that the company is helping a chain of small farmers who either sell their farm products to TAZOP or are involved on modern spice farming from TAZOP. Registered farmers have earned between 150m/- to 400m/- between 2004-2008, says Khamis.

Khamis says that his company has earned reputation because he has been able to capture lucrative markets. Aggressive in marketing, Khamis faces hard time to advance his marketing strategy because of daunting challenges facing his company - one is recent market competition from countries like India and China which, Khamis says, have "invaded" the market with relative low market prices.

"At this point, we are facing stiff competition. It's a cut throat-competition and it may expunge us from business", says Khamis. This problem stems from the fact that competitors are enjoying cheap labour production, and lower transport cost compared to his company. They also enjoy accessibility to market because their proximity to the market is close than ours, Khamis commented.

TAZOP can't escape this problem. It may be seen that the global economic crisis, or economic down turn that hasn't affected Zanzibar, however, it has affect his market abroad. "European and Asian countries were hit hard by economic down turn. Some companies which used to buy our products closed down, leading to retrenchment of employees", says Khamis.

"TAZOP is still struggling to fetch the new markets and we hope sooner or later the global market will stabilize for better. But, costs of operation and inspection are also another impediments facing their business," he says. There's no doubt that TAZOP is dealing with international markets. So in order to be competitive, they must meet the required standard of the products and established regulations.

TAZOP is based in Zanzibar, but operates internationally. For instance, TAZOP is routinely inspected and certified by a Swiss-based Institute For Marketecology (IMO) since the company (TAZOP) was established in 1999. "We operate in accordance with international marketing regulations, and we have to adhere to those rules and regulations", says Khamis.

In a nutshell, TAZOP, is engaged in organic farming, and committed to sustainable farming which gives priority to clean products. It also insists on caring for the environment. Khamis said: "So long as we are using land, soil, water and other ingredients in order to facilitate farming and eventually get our farm products, it is a must for TAZOP to protect the environment in a sustainable manner".

He said the organic farming has helped food safety for consumers, safety of farmers from excessive use of fertilizers and agro-chemicals. It also help protecting water sources which are potential to successful farming. One of the achievements of TAZOP is that the company is well recognized and acceptable internationally.

It has been invited and participated in different exhibitions - like the most popular one BioFach - held in Germany; and Foodex held in Japan. These are annual exhibitions. The exhibitions are organized with one specific objective - to boost the idea of organic farming and fetch international market.

SOURCE; http://allafrica.com