Investment boost in agriculture sectors heralds Nane Nane Exhibitions in Mwanza

MWANZA: THE Mwanza Regional Commissioner, Mr Said Mtanda, has said investment in the agriculture, livestock and fisheries sectors is an important way to reduce poverty, increase employment for youth and women, improve nutrition and increase the national income.

Mr Mtanda said this today while speaking at the Nane Nane exhibition at Nyamhongolo grounds, Mwanza region, emphasizing the importance of farmers, pastoralists and fishermen using the education, technology and innovation they gained at the exhibition to increase productivity.

He said the exhibition has given farmers and citizens the opportunity to see, learn and exchange experiences about technology, products and services provided by various stakeholders, thus increasing understanding about production, value addition of crops and markets.

Mr Mtanda said statistics show that approximately 65 percent of the national workforce is employed in these sectors, while more than 75 percent of households in the West Lake Zone depend on agriculture, livestock and fisheries for food and daily income.

Speaking about the food situation, he said Mwanza Region in the 2024/2025 agricultural season aimed to cultivate 490,725.78 hectares of essential food crops, with an expected harvest of 1,490,483.98 tons.

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He said that in that season, 379,542.50 hectares were cultivated and produced 1,071,752.19 tonnes of essential food crops, a move that enabled the region to meet 97 percent of its food needs estimated at 1.1m  tonnes per year.

Mr Mtanda said the food availability situation in the region for the 2025/2026 eating season was satisfactory and reliable.

 In addition, he said that in the 2025/2026 financial year, Mwanza and Geita regions used a total of 12,420 tonnes of subsidized fertilizer worth 3.4 bn/-, compared to 10,062 tonnes used in 2024/2025.