KAGERA: AS the nation aims to realise the sustainable Tanzania 2050 Development Vision, there is a pressing need to focus on transforming the agricultural sector.
Kagera Regional CCM Chairman, Mr Nazir Karamagi, highlighted this during a stakeholders’ meeting convened by Kagera Regional Commissioner (RC) Fatma Mwassa on Tuesday.
Mr Karamagi emphasised the importance of directing more efforts toward enhancing the agricultural sector.
“To achieve the sustainable Tanzania 2050 Development Vision, we must focus on transforming agriculture. This includes helping small-scale farmers progress to large-scale and eventually industrial farming,” he said.
He also advocated for policies that incorporate value addition to various crops to boost the incomes of farmers, livestock keepers and those in fisheries.
Former Kagera Regional CCM Chairman, Mr Pius Ngeze, added that it is crucial to shift small-scale farmers from traditional hand hoe methods to mechanised farming.
“For decades, farmers in Kagera and across the country have relied on hand hoes. The Tanzania 2050 Development Agenda should emphasise transitioning these farmers to mechanised agriculture,” Mr Ngeze stated.
He commended the government for increasing the budget for the Ministry of Agriculture to 1.248tri/- this fiscal year from 970bn/- last financial year and stressed the need to support small-scale farmers by improving their access to fertilisers and other agricultural inputs.
Kagera Regional Commissioner Fatma Mwassa welcomed both local and foreign investors, assuring them of support in accessing various opportunities.
“We offer an enabling environment with proper infrastructure, ample land for large and medium agricultural development, livestock development and reliable electricity,” she said. RC Mwassa also encouraged the Kagera diaspora to invest in their home region.
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She praised the sixth phase government under President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan for its commitment to people-oriented projects and its collaboration with the private sector to create employment opportunities for Tanzanians.
“Our seven-year Strategic Plan (2023/2030) focuses on repositioning Kagera Region. All stakeholders must work together to achieve our goals.
Unfortunately, Kagera is currently ranked 25th out of 26 regions in Tanzania Mainland in terms of economic development,” Mwassa noted.
The regional GDP for 2022 was 4.3tri/-, with a per capita income of 1,455,866/-, compared to the national average of 2.6m/-.
She emphasised the need for collective efforts to improve the region’s economic status and expressed confidence in the leaders’ ability to drive positive change.
Bananas are a staple food crop for approximately 2.9 million people in Kagera Region.
These farmers also earn cash income from selling banana bunches and derived products, such as the local banana brew, both within and outside the region.
It is estimated that over 95 per cent of households in the region engage in small-scale agriculture, with banana, beans and coffee cultivation being the primary activities.