Frank Msigwa is the director and founder of Frank Horticulture, a small avocado and fresh produce exporter from Njombe. The region is part of the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. It is a hilly and fertile land in the south-western part of the country, perfect for avocado production.
Sometimes referred to as the ‘green gold of Tanzania’, avocados are the new rising star in the country. While only some seven years ago domestic production was close to zero, the crop has now become a key export for Tanzania, making the country one of the leading African avocado exporters, preceded only by South Africa and Kenya.
Avocado growers and exporters struggle to access international markets because their produce often does not meet quality standards, buyer requirements and product regulations.
Despite this, Frank Msigwa’s company is doing well. Frank Horticulture is not only exporting its avocados to large regional buyers in Kenya but also contributing to trade within the East African Community (EAC).
New opportunities for Frank Horticulture emerged last year, when the company began receiving support through the European Union (EU) - East African Community (EAC) Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP).
In addition, attending the Global Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) standards training has been particularly helpful for Frank. It trained farmer groups, linked through the supply chain to exporters. The hands-on training aimed at increasing awareness about the importance of internationally recognised certifications, and preparing farmers groups to become eligible for the certifications.
Frank has remained an active part of these efforts to connect farmers with exports to create a win-win situation. Just last year his company provided a platform to 500 farmers, representing multiple farmer groups from the Njombe region, to receive a similar training on Global GAP certification.