Picture this. A huge table. Around eleven in the
morning. People of all nationalities are
seated listening and watching one of the speakers holding a small thin mango.
If you are a child it might look as though the man is fondling a beautiful toy.
Tantalizing and mouth watering the mango is quite ripe. Usually it would cost
you around three thousand shillings here in London. The price in Tanzania is
much, much less than that. High season Embe Sindano? A mere hundred to three
hundred shillings. Probably just 500 for low season.
“I can get you better mangoes than this” the medium
built man says dead pan. By the tone of his voice, the contours of his
calloused hands and his relaxed demeanour we can say (and conclude) he knows
what he is talking about. Photographers in the room and journalists are taking
in everything he is saying. Looks like an historical occasion.
The man who we have been told has a farming background
picks up a bunch of sweet bananas (“kichani cha ndizi kisukari” in Swahili) and
with that similar mix of positive arrogance, experienced and relaxed composure
declares:
“We can provide you better bananas than this.”
What does he mean by better?
“Thicker, bigger and sweeter.”
If you hail from Tanzania, especially the fertile
regions of Mbeya, Bukoba, Tukuyu, Arusha, Lushoto and Kilimanjaro, you would
definitely agree with the honourable speaker. You would concur that the smaller quite
expensive goods referred here can surely be surpassed. London’s class of
expensive tropical fruits begin with the papaya (cost: minimum ten thousand
shillings), sweet bananas (a bunch of five: approx 6 thou’ shillings) followed
by avocado and mangoes (five to six thou’). Cheaper fruits are apples, pears,
pineapples (depending where you buy); while the cheapest are oranges and green
bananas (five oranges for two thousand Shs for example) from the Caribbean.
Want Matoke? These would be in the same league as sweet bananas. Very expensive. And we are just speaking of
certain parts of London where South East Asian, Mediterranean and African shops
are located.
“Tanzania can supply organic fruits and vegetables,”
the man continues to promise.
SACOMA Director, Sam Ochieng shows the PM a yam from Ghana...Almost every food available in London because of such importers.
Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda is our man. He was a
guest at one of the most important areas of the UK food chain seven days ago.
Although his visit was officially related to the G8 conference, whereby the
theme was hunger and nutrition related to children ( you might have seen anti
capitalist protesters in the news in London on Tuesday), the PM had a chance to
pop in a place known as New Spitalfields Market in the East area of London. The
ground breaking occasion was organized and coordinated by the Tanzanian High
Commission for ages.
New Spitalfields was hatched in 1991 as a continuation
of the legendary Spitalfields market a few meters from Brick Lane, a place
filled with Asian shops and residences.
Started by King Charles in 1682, Spitalfields has a rich history of
multiple nationalities. During the 19th century it was dominated by
Irish people fleeing the Potato famine that killed around a million between
1845 and 1852. From 1880s to 1970s Jews
fleeing persecution equally found it lucrative; today South East Asians (esp.
from Bangladesh) surround the vicinity. Prime Minister accompanied by High
Commissioner Peter Kallaghe and Tanzania Trade Centre Director, Yusuf Kashangwa
and other officials were welcomed by SACOMA. Now what is SACOMA?
Think Kenya. Think neighbours. Think Swahili. Think
East Africa. But SACOMA is more than those nouns. It was created in 1998 and is
a short for Sahara Communities Abroad. Their website says it aims at bettering
lives of struggling small farmers in Kenya, employ and give equal opportunities
and training to young people and much more.
Perez Ochieng, Director of commerce, told me to-date SACOMA has 30,000 employees
in East Africa and Europe. But the community company ( most significantly)
imports fruits and vegetables and through their New Spitalfields office and
personnel then distributes them to large
supermarkets, retailers, schools ,
government institutions etc.
New Spitalfields Manager, Nigel Shepherds shows the visitor...
SACOMA promised support to Tanzania. I watched
Mheshimiwa Pinda being shown various types of yams from Ghana and Kenya,
admiring avocados and innumerous greens. To qualify Tanzania will have to fulfill
European Union requirements: how to grow and plant crops so they can last,
storage, packaging, refrigeration and so on...
It was heartening to see PM’s confidence who said it needed
effort but “we shall manage.”
Something rarely spoken during these matters was youth
participation. Normally young people are not interested in agriculture since it
is unappealing and regarded as only hoe work. Perez Ochieng said that SACOMA
has managed to make it attractive. “We train and make young people realize how
agriculture can contribute to change their lives.”
And how is that going to be done?
PM cited Gongo Seke in Mwanza whereby a group young
people are involved in horticulture and green houses. “It is important to
assure such young people that they can have a markets for their efforts.”
Also published in Citizen Tanzania
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