photos: NielsPhotography, AmaPics

Economic Influence Tanga Fresh on Region

Once the second most powerful economic region of Tanzania, Tanga fell to sixteenth place after the sisal market collapsed after the second world war. However, there is still a flour mill and a cement factory in the region and Tanga is home to the country’s second busiest port.

With Tanga Fresh, the region is enjoying something of an economic revival. After Tanga Fresh’s payday, villages and small towns come alive with vibrant markets every fifteen days.

In 2010 Tanga Fresh processed 11 million litres of milk and paid about 2,8 million Euros milk money, mainly to dairy farmers in the Tanga region. Most of this money is spent in the rural areas of the region. The major costs for dairy farmers are for feed, mainly for maize bran, paid mostly to other villagers in the same region. All this money generates income in the rural areas e.g. for shopkeepers, transporters (bicycles, motorcycles) and other activities.

Farmers are paid strictly every 14 days, providing a stable income for the rural families (between 3500 and 4000). Although the total sum seems large, it is only about 2 euros per family per day. However, even this small amount of money generates a lot of activies as can be seen in the local markets.