Trading activities in Ifakara takes the second position in economic activities after agriculture, which includes livestock keeping and crop farming. It has also become a very important sector in generation of employment to many people who are not able to secure employment in the public sector. Besides it contributes to Revenue generation to Council through different charges and fees.
Trading activities can be generalized by comprising of small-scale business that include retail shops, sub whole sale, ordinary hotels and guest house. The distribution of trading activities is influenced by population distribution, presence of economic activities and accessibility in terms of roads. Another important factor is purchasing power of the people which is a result of active economic activities. Most of trading activities are constructed in Ifakara and Viwanjasitini Wards.
The two wards act as the heart that supplies industrial goods from outside the district especially from Dar Es Salaam and Morogoro on one hand, collecting agricultural goods from the other parts within the Council area and outside ready for transportation to the markets, which are outside to the area. In other words the catchments areas for Ifakara town are all wards, mitaa and villages within the ITC and neighboring Districts and villages like Ulanga and Mikumi (In Kilosa District).
