Missenyi invites investment opportunities
KAGERA: MISSENYI Council Chairman, Mr Projestus Tegamaisho has extended an invitation to local and foreign investors to explore opportunities in the rapidly developing areas of Kyaka, Bunazi and Mutukula.
He urged them to apply for building permits in line with the district’s ambitious land development plans.
During the 2024-25 financial year, the Council has allocated a substantial budget for urban planning and development.
“This renewed focus on planning signals a shift in the council’s approach, aligning with national goals for sustainable urbanisation and economic growth. Adhering to urban planning procedures is crucial for ensuring the safety and sustainability of our growing communities,” he explained.
The government is implementing various investments to open economic opportunities and boost local incomes, including the recently rehabilitated Kitengure Bridge, which is essential for Kagera Sugar Factory (KSL) operations.
Mr Tegamaisho also revealed that 44m/- has been allocated for constructing a new market in Gera Ward to enhance banana crop sales.
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“This initiative addresses longstanding farmer complaints about market reliability. Many farmers in Kagera produce bananas, especially FHIA varieties, but lacked a consistent market. The new market will not only provide this but also create job opportunities for young people,” he added.
Bananas are a staple food for about 2.9 million people in Kagera Region. Farmers earn income from selling banana bunches and local products, such as banana brew, both locally and regionally.
An estimated 95 per cent of households in the region engage in small-scale agriculture, focusing on bananas, beans and coffee. In the 2018/2019 season, Tanzania produced a record 3,407 metric tonnes of bananas, showing minimal growth compared to the previous season’s 3,396 metric tonnes. Bananas are a key part of Tanzania’s staple diet and one of the ten main food crops in the country.
Over 70 per cent of bananas are grown in Kagera, Kilimanjaro and Mbeya regions, with other significant producing areas including Morogoro, Kigoma, Mara, Arusha, Manyara, Ruvuma, Tanga and Coast. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the global banana trade was valued at approximately 8.9 billion USD, with a retail value ranging from 20 billion to 25 billion USD annually.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), nearly nine-tenths of the world’s bananas are consumed in poorer countries, where at least 400 million people rely on them for 15 to 27 per cent of their daily caloric intake.
