CCM promises wheat hub

HANANG: CCM presidential candidate Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan yesterday pledged to transform Hanang District into the country’s wheat powerhouse, promising to address idle farms and ensure it produces one million tonnes of wheat annually by 2030.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Katesh Town, Hanang District, Manyara Region, Dr Samia said the government was aware of large tracts of land allocated to investors for wheat production that remain undeveloped despite their potential to boost the country’s food security.

“We want Hanang to produce one million tonnes of wheat by 2030. Yet we still have big farms that were allocated to investors but are lying idle. I have directed the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) to review those agreements and see how we can return the farms so that they can be redistributed and put into production,” she said.

Dr Samia cited specific estates at Kidgamot, Murjanda and Setchet, saying the government would not tolerate land remaining unutilised while the country continues to import wheat.

She also confirmed that Basotu plantation will remain under the Treasury Registrar and be supervised by the Hanang District Council until a new investor is secured.

“The council must ensure the land is utilised transparently, with clear fees for farmers to avoid exploitation by brokers,” she directed.

On livestock, Dr Samia said the sixth-phase government had invested in dipping facilities, slaughterhouses and subsidised vaccinations to meet global standards for livestock trade.

“We have succeeded in securing markets for livestock products, but the challenge was that our cattle were not vaccinated. That is why we are subsidising vaccinations and ensuring proper livestock identification so that pastoralists benefit from new opportunities,” she said.

She added that livestock auctions at Katesh, Pasodesh and Endagau had been renovated to meet modern standards, opening up further trade for the Manyara Region. Dr Samia also promised to sustain input subsidies for farmers, including fertiliser, to increase productivity of both staple and cash crops.

She assured Hanang residents that the government is negotiating with India, which is Tanzania’s key pigeon pea buyer to stabilise prices.

“It is true that global production has increased and prices have dropped, but we are discussing with India so that even if prices fall, the drop should not exceed 70 per cent of last year’s levels.Don’t lose hope, the government is with you,” she said.

Infrastructure was another priority outlined in her address, with Dr Samia pledging to construct the 79-kilometre Nangwa–Isambalang–Kondoa road and the 80-kilometre Mogitu–Hydom road to tarmac level.

She further announced plans to build a dam at Isakangwale Village to support irrigation farming, while five new communication towers will be erected in underserved areas to improve mobile phone networks.

Dr Samia said her administration had laid the foundation for broad-based growth over the past four years and was now seeking a fresh mandate to deliver more.

“We have done much, and we are confident. That is why we are moving across the country asking for your votes so that we can do even greater things,” she told the rally.

CCM Secretary General Dr Asha-Rose Migiro also addressed the gathering, urging voters to deliver a clean sweep for the ruling party.

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“October is here. On election day, fathers, mothers and children should come out peacefully to vote for CCM. We must elect President Samia, but we also need MPs and councillors so that she is fully supported,” she said.

Hanang parliamentary candidate Asia Halamga said the government had already channelled over 95bn/- into development projects in the district during Dr Samia’s leadership, including 16bn/- for new secondary schools and 7bn/- for health facilities.

“More than 109 houses with title deeds have been built for families affected by the tragedy that struck Hanang, and over 400m/- has been provided as loans to livestock keepers. We are here to say we will vote for Dr Samia because our development depends on CCM,” she said.

Meanwhile, when winding up her Arusha Region campaign in Karatu, Dr Samia assured residents of Ngorongoro District that her government will deliver a long-awaited decision on the sensitive conservation and resettlement issue in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) immediately after the General Election.

She commended the people of Ngorongoro for maintaining calm and order during government assessments.

“The commissions formed have completed their work and the report is ready, once the elections are concluded, we will issue a decision.” she said.