Tanzania’s tea board partners with Japanese firms to boost tea production with advanced technology

TANZANIA – The Tea Board of Tanzania (TBT) has announced plans to adopt advanced technological factories to lower production costs and enhance the value of Tanzanian tea.  

The announcement was made by Beatrice Banzi, Acting Director of the Tea Board of Tanzania, during a meeting with a Japanese delegation in Dar es Salaam yesterday. 

The Japanese delegation, which includes representatives from two major tea companies—Kawasaki Kiko and Nasa Cooperation—visited Tanzania to exchange knowledge on tea cultivation and explore investment opportunities. 

Speaking at the meeting, Banzi highlighted the lessons Tanzania has learned from Japan regarding the use of modern technology in agriculture.  

She noted that Japan, faced with labor shortages, has embraced innovative, industrial revolution technologies to automate farm work. 

“We have observed that, due to a shortage of labor, they have started to innovate ways to carry out farm work without people, using industrial revolution technologies,” Banzi said. 

She emphasized that Tanzania has a large labor force but faces financial challenges in compensating workers. Introducing modern technological factories, similar to those used in Japan, could help reduce production costs while improving efficiency. 

Beyond industrial advancement, Banzi stated that the collaboration aims to enhance the quality of Tanzanian tea to strengthen its position in both domestic and international markets.  

“Achieving this will help us expand the tea market,” she added. 

Edna Chuku, Economic Affairs Officer at the Tanzanian Embassy in Japan, underscored the potential benefits of the partnership. She said that Japan’s technology and expertise could significantly enhance the competitiveness of Tanzanian tea globally. 

“The aim is to support the strengthening of economic diplomacy. Tanzanian tea needs to improve its competitiveness, much like coffee in Japan,” Chuku remarked. 

She further noted that Japan, with its limited labor force and geographical constraints, is actively seeking international markets for its expertise, identifying Tanzania as a promising partner. 

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