Horticulture storage and transport infrastructure enhances the shelf life of the commodities and expands the volume of exports accessing the premium export markets. This ultimately increase earnings for all actors in the value chain (5, 18, 19, 32).

Improved storage and transport infrastructure has the potential to create new employment opportunities particularly to some of the 800,000 youth that enter Tanzania’s workforce each year. The opportunities can be in various segments of the value chain, including sorting and grading, packaging, delivery to exporters ‘factories or collection centers (19, 20).

Improvements in distribution networks and processes reduce transport-related losses, so that greater quantities of food reach market, while also improving end-product quality (19, 20, 33). This also improves the food security and nutrition situation among the Tanzanian population (18).

Failure to adhere to good quality practices in handling horticulture products on transit and exit points may produce negative effects on the product, ultimately contributing to food losses (7, 13).

With expanded activities and modernization of the horticulture sector in Tanzania, there is a likelihood of increased GHG emission. This is largely because fresh food transport system is a cold chain where large volumes of energy is needed to keep raw food in safety condition. Research has shown that the environmental impact of energy use particularly in GHG emission will continue to be felt in developing countries as they upgrade their cold storage infrastructure systems (38).

Low volumes of horticulture products may lead to suboptimal utilisation of storage and transport infrastructure, which may limit the expected impact (17, 19).

Lack of parallel efforts to improve the normal distribution networks via roads, airports and rail transportation systems, and energy sources may limit the expected impact because they are the bedrock on which the cold storage and transport infrastructure is yoked. The two systems complement each other (33).

Poor accessibility and low affordability for small-scale farmers may limit the expected impact because the storage and cold transport infrastructure requires heavy capital expenditure, which are ordinarily beyond the reach of small-scale farmers (18, 33).

Improve handling of perishable products and reduce incidences of post-harvest losses.

Tanzania Horticulture Development Strategy, 2012-2021: Emphasises on infrastructure investment as a means for developing a robust and competitive horticultural sector capable of supplying high quality produce for domestic, regional and international markets (8).

Third National Five-Year Plan, 2021 (FYDP III): Aims to address the challenges of horticulture by investing as well as creating an enabling environment for the private sector to invest in storage, transport and logistics (5).

National Construction Policy, 2003: Aims at improving the capacity and effectiveness of the construction industry to meet the national economic demand for infrastructure facilities, including for the horticulture industry (25).

National Transport Policy, 2003: Supports appropriate development strategies and establishes a strong infrastructure base and services in all major towns and other centres of socio-economic activities and growth (27).

Fiscal incentives: Tanzania offers import duty and VAT exemption on deemed capital goods, including building materials, utility vehicles and equipment that is required for horticulture storage and transport infrastructure, among other things (33, 34).

The Bagamoyo Special Economic Zone provides quality infrastructure complemented by an attractive fiscal package, business support services, cluster formation and minimal regulations, which is particularly for horticulture activities, including storage and transportation (26).

Plant Protection Act, 1997: Governs the import and export of plant and plant products and ensure fulfilment of international commitment on agriculture trade (39).

Export Processing Zones Act, 2002: Facilitates the creation of international competitiveness for export growth. Issues related to the horticulture sector, particularly for the establishments of large-scale production and infrastructure facilities, are also guided by the act (40).

Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority Act: Provides regulations and the code of conduct for clearing and forwarding agents (30).

National Institute of Transport Act, 1983: Provides for the establishment of the institute to provide facilities for training in techniques of transport management, automobile mechanics and transport operations (31).

TAHA Fresh. Farm to Fork Ltd, BRAVO Logistics (T) Ltd, East Africa Fruits Farm & Company Limited, EAT Fresh Ltd.

Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Industry and Trade, TanTrade, Tanzania Ports Authority, Tanzania Railways Authority, Tanzania Road Transport Agency, Tanzania Horticulture Association (TAHA), Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC), Tanzania Export Processing Zones Authority (TEPZA).

World Bank Group (WBG), African Development Bank (AfDB), European Union (EU), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Tanzania Agriculture Council, Tanzania Food Gardening Network (TaFoGa Net), FinTrack, TechnoServe, Enterprise Works, Private Agricultural Sector Support Trust (PASS).

The Bagamoyo Special Economic Zone is a large cluster that can provide storage infrastructure for horticulture products and well as fastracking clearance to export markets (26).

The Northern Zone has high intensity of horticulture activities to warrant investment in storage and cold storage infrastructure. There are reliable rains in two seasons and with an average rainfall greater than 700 mm. It also enjoys good links to airfreight via Kilimanjaro International Airport and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (19).

The Southern Highlands has high intensity of horticulture activities to warrant investment in storage and cold storage infrastructure. A high-altitude climate with lower day and night temperatures, low humidity, altitudes from 1,564 m to 2,600 m above sea levels and one rainy season. The Songwe International Airport in Mbeya can be used as an export hub for horticulture, if upgraded (19).

The Lake Zone has high intensity of horticulture activities to warrant investment in storage and cold storage. Localized conditions vary according to proximity to Lake Victoria, which are ideal for growing vegetables, especially capsicums cabbages, tomatoes, eggplants, beans, onions, mangoes and sweet bananas (19).