Government disburses 7bn/- to empower youth in fisheries projects

MWANZA: A TOTAL of 7bn/- has been issued as loans to support 308 graduates through the Building a Better Tomorrow (BBT) – Fisheries Programme to implement projects in cage fish farming, sea cucumber farming, crab fattening and seaweed cultivation.

The funds were handed over to the youth recently in Mwanza City by the Minister of State in the President’s Office for Youth Development, Dr Joel Nanauka, during the launch of capital disbursement for projects initiated by young people under the BBT programme.

Dr Nanauka said the funds, provided as concessional loans to facilitate access to capital, were allocated to BBT–Fisheries graduates who had successfully completed their practical training.

“Together, we are building a better tomorrow not through words, but through actions that create jobs, income and hope for Tanzanian youth,” he said.

He assured Tanzanians that the initiative to empower youth is sustainable, noting that the President’s Office for Youth Development has already issued general guidelines on how young people can benefit from the 200bn/- Youth Empowerment Fund launched by President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

He also commended the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries for issuing specific guidelines for loan applications worth 23bn/- to support livestock, fisheries and aquaculture development projects through local government authorities (LGAs).

“The president expects every eligible young person to seize this important opportunity,” he added.

The Minister said that the fund has been issued as soft loans in the form of equipment, essential aquaculture inputs and subsistence allowances.

He said the youth financing programme for cage fish farming projects will be implemented in Mwanza, Mara and Kagera regions, while projects involving sea cucumber farming, seaweed cultivation and crab fattening will be carried out in the coastal zone, particularly in Coast and Mtwara regions.

According to him, the projects, based on the blue economy concept demonstrate that Tanzanian youth have a significant role in advancing President Samia’s agenda of sectoral transformation aimed at economic growth, in line with the National Development Vision 2050.

He assured the beneficiaries that the initiative marks the beginning of demonstrating to Tanzanians that investing in youth yields tangible results.

Dr Nanauka urged them to maintain discipline, professionalism, innovation and accountability in implementing the projects, many of which they helped design.

“The government will stand shoulder to shoulder with you, but success will depend on your efforts, unity and integrity in managing these systems and resources,” he said.

He also reminded the beneficiaries that they have a responsibility to repay the loans faithfully so that the government can extend similar opportunities to other young people. Failure to repay, he warned, could affect their creditworthiness with financial institutions in the country.

Speaking at the event, the Deputy Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Ms Ng’wasi Kamani, commended the youth for their patience during the two years of training they underwent before receiving the funds.

“These young people completed their training and submitted applications. We registered their names two years ago and today we are finally handing over these funds. They have demonstrated discipline and patriotism,” she said.

She noted that the beneficiaries will serve as a benchmark for the government’s continued investment in youth empowerment, as they are expected to implement the programme effectively and demonstrate its impact.

Ms Kamani added that the 308 beneficiaries represent the first phase, while the remaining 148 youth will benefit from the 23bn/- loan facility allocated for livestock, fisheries and aquaculture projects through local government authorities.

“Empowering these youth is part of the ministry’s strategy to increase production and enhance the contribution of the fisheries sector to the national economy while creating employment,” she explained.

The Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Professor Mohamed Sheikh, who represented the Permanent Secretary Ms Agnes Meena, said the BBT programme in the fisheries sector aims to increase youth participation in fishing and aquaculture activities, thereby boosting fish production while addressing youth unemployment.

He said that out of 486 youth graduates, 308 are being supported in this phase. Among them, 160 will implement cage fish farming projects, while 148 will undertake sea cucumber farming, seaweed cultivation and crab fattening projects.

Prof Sheikh added that 55 youth representatives symbolically received cheques on behalf of the 308 beneficiaries selected by the government to receive start-up capital.

Representing the Mwanza Regional Commissioner, Nyamagana District Commissioner Mrs Amina Makilagi urged the youth to use the loans responsibly and repay them on time so that other young people can also benefit.

CCM Mwanza Regional Chairman Mr Masanja Lusinje said the provision of loans to youth forms part of the implementation of the party’s election manifesto.

A representative of the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry, Trade, Agriculture and Livestock, Mrs Ghati Chomete, commended the government through the ministry responsible for youth development for its efforts to empower young people with capital.

The Director of Planning, Advisory and Relations at the Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB), Mr Mkani Waziri, who represented the bank’s Chief Executive Officer, said that over the past two years the bank has disbursed loans worth 14.07bn/- for agricultural and fisheries interventions.

He added that the bank has also supported the establishment of 519 fish cages across Mwanza, Kagera, Mara, Geita, Simiyu and Kigoma regions.