Misungwi vows to boost horticulture
MWANZA: THE Misungwi District Council in Mwanza Region has pledged to scale up the production of horticultural and garden crops as part of efforts to strengthen the local economy and ensure adequate food supply in the region.
The commitment was made by the Misungwi Council Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Officer, Dr Chrispin Shami, during the official handover of three irrigation machines donated by the Ministry of Agriculture to support farmers in improving productivity through irrigation farming.
Dr Shami said the provision of the machines will help address the challenge of inadequate irrigation equipment, which has been affecting farmers’ output.
“Our goal is to see increased production of horticultural crops. Misungwi is one of the major vegetable-producing areas that supply Mwanza City, and these machines will help boost production even further,” he said.
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On his part, Engineer Makubi Abeli from the Ministry of Agriculture said the government aims to assist various districts across the country in accessing modern irrigation tools to enhance efficiency and productivity in the agricultural sector.
He said in the first phase, three wards Misasi, Sumbugu and Illujamate will benefit from the machines, while the second phase will target areas with permanent water sources.
“So far, the Ministry has distributed 200 irrigation machines in seven regions at a total cost of 3.5bn/-. This forms part of the implementation of the Tanzania Food Systems Resilience Programme (TFSRP), which seeks to strengthen food production systems through improved technology and climate-resilient farming practices,” he said.
He further noted that the programme aims to transform farming systems from rain-fed dependence to sustainable irrigation-based methods, a move that will increase both food and commercial crop production while reducing reliance on unpredictable rainfall.
“The government remains committed to ensuring that people attain sustainable incomes and sufficient food through the adoption of modern irrigation technologies,” he added.
Misungwi District Executive Director, Mr Addo Missama, commended the Ministry of Agriculture for its continued support to local farmers and urged beneficiaries to use the machines effectively to maximise productivity.
Meanwhile, a farmer from Sumbugu Ward, Ms Sarah Elisha, expressed her appreciation, saying the new machines will significantly reduce watering time and enable her to expand her farming area.
“Previously, I used to spend long hours watering by hand, but with these machines, I’ll save time and increase my farm size for better yields,” she said.
