By Juma Msafiri | March 2025
In the lush, rolling hills of Tanzania’s SAGCOT Corridor, a quiet revolution is taking root—one that could redefine agriculture across East Africa. Here, where the soil is rich, and the climate is ripe for innovation, Tamu Tamu Tanzania (TTT) is planting the seeds for a bold new vision: apples as Africa’s next big crop. With their March 2025 Business Case for Medium-Density Apple Cultivation, TTT isn’t just offering a farming model—they’re presenting a multimillion-dollar opportunity that could turn a $500 million import problem into a homegrown triumph.
For decades, apples have been a staple of East African diets, yet the region spends over half a billion dollars each year importing them from distant shores. TTT asks a simple, transformative question: Why not grow them here instead? Backed by six years of meticulous research and development, the company has crafted a blueprint that promises rapid returns, sustainable practices, and a chance to reshape the continent’s agricultural future.
The CEO of SAGCOT Centre, Mr. Geoffrey Kirenga — one of Tanzania’s most experienced experts in value chain development — has been at the forefront of transforming the country’s agricultural landscape. As he transitions into a broader role under the Agriculture Corridors of Tanzania (AGCOT), he continues to emphasize the immense potential of apples as a significant cash crop. According to Mr. Kirenga, Tanzania has all it takes to elevate apple farming to a national success story. With the support of an anchor investor and a well-structured outgrower model benefiting hundreds of smallholder farmers, the transformation is not only possible — it is ripe and ready for harvest.
🌍 Solving a $500 Million Riddle
East Africa’s apple obsession is undeniable. From bustling markets in Dar es Salaam to rural households in the highlands, demand for apples and apple products—fresh, juiced, or processed—shows no signs of slowing. With the region’s population projected to double in the next 30 years, that demand will only climb. Yet, until now, the answer has been to ship apples across oceans, draining foreign exchange reserves and leaving local farmers out of the equation.
TTT sees this as a missed opportunity—and they’re seizing it. “Our business model offers an early-mover advantage for those ready to build local apple orchards that replace imports with home-grown quality,” says David Runge, TTT’s Commercial Director. The company’s research has pinpointed 13 apple varieties tailored to East Africa’s diverse climates, from humid lowlands to cooler upland zones. These aren’t your average apples—they’re hardy, high-yielding, and perfectly suited to equatorial conditions.
🌱 The Medium-Density Edge
At the core of TTT’s strategy is medium-density apple farming, a system that balances cost, efficiency, and scalability. Unlike high-density orchards that demand expensive trellising or traditional low-density setups with sluggish returns, TTT’s approach uses semi-dwarfing rootstocks—trees that grow to 5-6 meters, planted at a precise 3m x 3m spacing (1,111 trees per hectare). These trees start bearing fruit as early as Year 3, hit full production by Year 8 with 30kg per tree, and promise a productive lifespan of 35 to 50+ years.
The numbers speak for themselves:
- Total development costs: $12,700–$16,200 per hectare
- Annual operating costs: $2,000–$2,500 per hectare in the early years, rising modestly as yields increase
- Breakeven: 6–7 years
- Revenue at full production: Over $18,000 per hectare annually, based on a B2B price of $0.55 per kg
What sets this model apart? Efficiency. These orchards require less water than other tree crops like avocados or macadamias, thanks to a 3-4 month dormancy period that aligns with the dry season. TTT’s irrigation systems—dripper lines or micro-sprinklers costing $3,500–$7,000 per hectare—include fertigation for precise nutrient delivery, ensuring sustainability without breaking the bank.
💧 A Lean, Green Investment
Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword for TTT—it’s a business advantage. Their medium-density orchards are designed to thrive with minimal resources. Irrigation costs hover between $500–$700 per hectare annually, and pest management is streamlined with low-cost biologicals targeting the woolly apple aphid, a minor nuisance easily controlled with TTT’s resistant rootstocks. The result is a lean operation that delivers outsized returns.
Take the cash flow projections: By Year 3, a hectare generates $1,833 in revenue. By Year 6, that jumps to $11,611, and by Year 8, it peaks at $18,333—more than enough to offset the initial $14,500 capital investment and ongoing operating costs. For investors, it’s a rare combination of quick payback (6 years) and long-term stability (decades of production).
📈 Why Apples, Why Now?
The timing couldn’t be more urgent. Global supply chain disruptions—from pandemics to geopolitical tensions—have exposed the fragility of relying on imports. Meanwhile, East Africa’s population boom and rising food prices are amplifying the need for resilient, local solutions. Apples, unlike export-focused crops like avocados or macadamias, offer a dual advantage: they meet domestic demand while opening doors to value-added products—think juices, ciders, vinegars, or dried snacks.
“We want to make food access more equitable and affordable,” TTT’s report declares. With strategic off-take agreements and processing potential already in their sights, the company is positioning apples as more than just a fruit—it’s a full-fledged value chain waiting to be tapped.
🚀 From Highlands to Horizon
From their base in Tanzania’s Southern Highlands, TTT is already making waves. With 61 employees, 316 customers, and a track record of private-sector innovation, they’re not just growing apples—they’re cultivating a movement. Their orchards promise uniformity in fruit quality, thanks to even light distribution across smaller trees, and their farmer training programs ensure that knowledge spreads as fast as the trees grow.
For commercial farmers, start-ups, and large-scale investors alike, TTT’s business case is a call to action. It’s a chance to build food sovereignty, boost farmer livelihoods, and ride the wave of Africa’s agricultural renaissance. With a payback period of 6 years and a productive life stretching decades, the opportunity is as durable as it is lucrative.
Ready to Take a Bite?
The apple revolution is here, and TTT is ready to guide the way. Whether you’re a farmer with a hectare to spare or an investor eyeing Africa’s next big thing, the team stands by to answer questions and offer support.
For more details or to start your apple farming journey:
🌐 www.tamutamutanzania.com
📧 david.runge@tamutamutanzania.com | ☎️ +255 776 272 836
📍 Southern Highlands, Tanzania
In a continent bursting with potential, Tamu Tamu Tanzania is proving that the future of agriculture isn’t just green—it’s apple-red.