Tanga. The government has officially received land for the construction of an international fish market that will serve sardine and fish traders in Pangani District, Tanga Region.
The site, located in Kipumbwi Ward, was handed over on September 17, 2025, during a ceremony graced by Tanga Regional Commissioner, Dr Batilda Buriani.
She noted that while the project will bring benefits, sardine traders in the region still face challenges with pricing. She urged the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries to secure a reliable market for fishers and traders.
“The construction of this market will be very useful, but prices remain a challenge. Once completed, over 10,000 households of fishers, traders and processors in Pangani District will benefit from a safe and reliable business space,” said Dr Buriani.
She said that the project is expected to cut post-harvest losses of up to 30 percent, particularly during rainy seasons when lack of modern storage and processing facilities forces traders to incur heavy losses.
According to her, the fisheries sector is a growing source of employment, with the number of Tanzanians engaged in fishing increasing from 4.5 million in 2020 to more than 6 million this year.
The government also plans to establish ice-making plants, cold rooms, and modern fish-drying facilities to boost productivity and protect fisheries resources.
“I call on residents to cooperate with the contractor, WCEC Limited, to ensure the project is completed on time and meets quality standards. There will be no room for delays or negligence,” she said.
Local residents welcomed the project, with Ms Aziza Mrisho noting that brokers often exploit small traders by dictating prices. She suggested the ministry set indicative prices to ensure fairness.
Fish processor Ms Janeth Urio said the facility would solve long-standing challenges of drying and storing sardines during the rainy season. “With cold storage and drying areas, we will be able to work without fearing disruptions,” she said.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Ms Agness Meena, said the project is part of a broader government strategy to strengthen the fisheries value chain.
She explained that in collaboration with the Agricultural and Fisheries Development Programme (AFDP), the government has allocated the site to WCEC Limited at a cost of Sh1.3 billion.
“As a ministry, we assure citizens that this market will boost economic opportunities. We will monitor the project closely to ensure it is delivered on schedule and meets required standards,” she said.
The government is investing more than Sh1.3 billion in the project, which is expected to directly benefit over 10,000 households in Pangani.
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