Tibaijuka urges strategic market plan to boost crop sales in Kagera

KAGERA: FORMER Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements, Professor Anna Tibaijuka has emphasised the need for a strategic market plan to enable local products and crops produced by the farmers in Kagera Region including coffee and vanilla to get reliable markets.

She made the remarks on Thursday during round-table discussions of the Ijukomuka Festival held in Bukoba Municipality, where the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr Dotto Biteko was a guest of honour.

Professor Tibaijuka explained that Kagera is a leading coffee producer with annual production of about 60,000 metric tonnes, which accounts for almost 50 per cent of the nation’s total coffee production.

“We are witnessing massive investments being directed in the region, we need to have a strategic market plan to enable local products and crops produced by the farmers in Kagera region   including coffee and vanilla to get reliable markets in neighbouring countries and at the international level,” she said.

Dr Biteko, applauded Kagera Regional Commissioner, Ms Fatma Mwassa and her team for organising well the investment forum.

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He also directed all Regional Commissioners (RCs) and District Commissioners (DCs) countrywide to promote economic and investment opportunities available in their respective areas.

“Collective efforts are needed on promoting investments in key sectors including tourism, agribusiness, trade and blue economy from the district levels. This will provide available potentials to be tapped as targets set by President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan on bolstering investment and the economy at large,” he said.

He added: “You should always do what you can do for the citizens’ wellbeing, there is no way that you can wait for the President to create visibility to the districts or regions’ opportunities, we must support our President,” Dr Biteko said.

Kagera Regional CCM Chairman, Nazir Karamagi hailed President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan for implementing people-centred projects which have positively improved people’s lives.

Mr Karamagi explained that Kagera is primed for investments due to its geographical location bordering four East African Community (EAC) nations- Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Kenya which can also be reached through Lake Victoria.

“Investments in hospitality industry is highly encouraged by constructing five-star hotels and in livestock and agri-business sectors which employ many Tanzanians, ” he said.

Kagera Regional Commissioner Fatma Mwassa welcomed the dispora to invest in various sectors including sardines drying project adding that a significant revenue was lost through poor sardines drying practices.

An investor, Dr Dustan Bishanga, on the other hand, appealed for government support on improving the infrastructure including having a modern airport at Omukajunguti area, in Missenyi District to facilitate easier transportation of perishable products to neighbouring markets.