CONSTRAINTS TO INTERMEDIARIES ROLE IN VALUE ADDITION AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT FOR FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES SUPPLY CHAIN IN DAR ES SALAAM CITY, TANZANIA

Abstract

Despite the critical role played by intermediaries in value addition and quality improvement in the context of urban fresh fruits and vegetable supply chain, this same role has not been fully realised in the context of urban fruits and vegetable supply chain in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This paper explores the intermediaries’ role on value addition and quality improvement in the context of urban fresh fruits and vegetable (FFVs) supply chain in Dar es Salaam city to understand impediments to value addition and quality improvement. Qualitative approach was adopted and data were collected using documentary review, in-depth interviews, and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and non-participant observations based on the purposive sample size of 60 respondents. Thematic data analysis strategy was adopted and data were analysed using MAXQDA software. Findings showed that the intermediaries’ inability to value addition and quality improvement for urban fresh fruits and vegetables were determined by a number of factors. The inability to facilitate packaging and packing was related to inadequate knowledge and awareness of packaging facilities, limited financial capital to buy modern packaging facilities and lack of quality and value assurance regulatory authorities. Impediments to branding and labelling rotated around inadequate branding and labelling technology and tools, inadequate knowledge and skills, financial difficulties by the intermediaries. Impediments to grading and sorting emanated from lack of proper grading and sorting tools and lack of knowledge and awareness on value addition and quality improvement. Impediments to collection were caused by lack of modern harvesting and collection tools, lack of modern storage facilities as well as climate changes and variation. Lastly, impediments to inspection and arrangement revolved around poor timing for conducting inspection, lack of enough fund to buy inspection tools and poor coordination of inspection. Strategies for overcoming the impediments include introduction and enforcement of relevant laws, regulatory mechanisms, appropriate policies and regulations that would effectively govern issues of fruits and vegetable value addition and quality improvement, sensitizing intermediaries on proper knowledge and skills, provision of financial assistance to intermediaries to facilitate packing and packaging of the FFV as well as improvement of marketing and selling strategies.