As the global spice market swells—expected to grow from $16.46 billion in 2024 to $26.65 billion by 2033—this young Tanzanian entrepreneur is transforming local farming networks into premium exports, with strategic investments in quality, logistics, and international branding.
By AGCOT Centre, Tanzania – August 12, 2025
At the annual Nane Nane 2025 Exhibition in Mbeya, Tanzania, amid the sea of pavilions celebrating agricultural innovation, one booth consistently drew crowds of farmers, traders, and dignitaries alike. The draw was Mkami T. Limited, the premium spice company founded by 30-year-old entrepreneur Mkami Yusuph Tetere, a rising figure in Africa’s fast-evolving agribusiness sector.
Operating from Serengeti, Kyela, Mkami’s vision is unapologetically global: to transform Tanzania’s rich agricultural potential into high-value spice products that compete on the world stage—while building prosperity at home. Her flagship range—tea masala, pilau masala, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper, garlic, and lemongrass tea—reflects both heritage and innovation.
Farmer-Centered Supply Networks: The Backbone of Growth
Founded in 2020 and formally registered in 2022, Mkami T. Limited has built an intricate supply chain spanning 19 farmers across multiple regions: six in Tanga, three in Morogoro, seven in Mbeya (including a farmer group), and two in Songea.
She sources cardamom both locally and through strategic partnerships with trusted Indian traders, stores groundnuts in Kyela for quality control, and manages her own logistics to protect product integrity. Ginger—her signature export—reaches both domestic markets and international buyers, with Zambia as a key client.
By reinvesting profits rather than relying solely on credit, Mkami has strengthened her company’s operational resilience while positioning herself for future financing opportunities.
Roots in Kyela, Eyes on the Future
Unlike many founders, Mkami is both a processor and a producer. She cultivates part of her own spice supply, ensuring quality from seed to shelf. This vertical integration allows her to transform raw harvests into value-added products, increasing profitability and creating local employment for two permanent staff and 13 seasonal workers.
She also invests in training regional farmers in sustainable practices—creating a multiplier effect where her success fuels the growth of her partners.
Recognition on the Global Stage
Mkami’s determination has propelled her far beyond Tanzania’s borders. In October 2023, she was one of four young Tanzanian agripreneurs invited to represent the country at the World Food Forum (WFF) in Rome, Italy.
Hosted at the FAO headquarters from October 16–20, the event combined the WFF Youth Forum, FAO Science and Innovation Forum, and Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum—a nexus for policymakers, investors, scientists, and entrepreneurs working to transform food systems amid climate and economic pressures.
In Rome, Mkami pitched her spice products to a global audience, participated in high-level discussions on sustainable agriculture, and was featured by Vatican News alongside fellow delegates Ray Peter Mark, Geophrey Tenganamba, and Emmanuel Lucian Kisinda.
Her attendance was backed by Tanzania’s Ministry of Agriculture and supported by SAGCOT (now AGCOT), which has provided strategic advisory, networking opportunities, and visibility across both regional and international platforms.
Bringing Global Insights Home
Two years later, the lessons and networks from Rome were evident in her Nane Nane 2025 pavilion. The product line was sharper, the supply chain more efficient, and the brand positioning more sophisticated. Farmers who once sold her raw produce now saw their contributions transformed into premium packaged goods, sold to buyers from Lusaka to Dar es Salaam.
In many ways, her Nane Nane appearance was a homecoming—proof that strategic exposure abroad can supercharge grassroots transformation at home.
Contact Information
📞 +255 743 532 503 | +255 745 445 804
📍 Serengeti, Kyela, Mbeya, Tanzania