Journal Article
This study examines the current situation and challenges in orange production
and marketing in Muheza District, Tanga Region, Tanzania. Tanga Region is a major orange
production area in Tanzania, and it is estimated that more than 80% of all oranges in Tanga
Region are produced in Muheza District. Utilizing field data collected in Mkuzi and Mindu
villages in Muheza District, this paper explores the current situation of orange production and
marketing. Orange production makes a substantial contribution to the district’s economy; 80%
of the district council revenue is derived from taxes on orange production and about 75% of
household income in 2011 was estimated to be delivered from oranges. Although orange production
is extremely important in this district, the real situation regarding production and marketing
has not been closely investigated. In this paper, I discuss the present situation regarding
orange production and marketing and present an empirical study conducted in two representative
villages in Muheza District. It is argued that the marketing chain controls orange production
in the two villages because participants higher up the chain can directly control the production
process through their interactions with producers. However, at the end, the traders who
have control of the orange farms, and the producers are often relegated to mere watchmen of
their own plots. To address this issue, an integrated approach is recommended where dependence
on orange cultivation is reduced by diversifying into other sources of income, such as
planting fast-growing timber trees along the boundaries of farms, to supplement producers’
income from orange.