ZANZIBAR: PRESIDENT Hussein Mwinyi has vowed that his government will take further measures aimed at boosting agricultural production.
Dr Mwinyi made the affirmation when he graced the opening of the seventh agricultural exhibitions also known as ‘Nanenane Farmers Day in Zanzibar.’
At the celebrations at Kizimbani grounds in Dole village, Unguja Urban-West Region over the weekend, he said: “The Government is determined to bring agricultural reforms in the country and to engage more people particularly the youth to use modern technology for food security and agri-business including promoting value chain.”
Elaborating, he promised that the government will further establish special centres in every district for farmers and livestock/breeders so as to have easy access to services, which will enable they increase production.
Dr Mwinyi urged farmers in Zanzibar to seize opportunities in the pipeline, especially in the implementation of a 7.5bn/- big project to support and develop small dairy farmers, improve productivity, nutrition and effective mitigation of the challenges arising from climate change.
“Young people, this is your opportunity, make the best use of it. Get self-employed in agriculture and livestock sectors, learn the best practices and methods at exhibitions such as Nanenane,” Dr Mwinyi emphasised, as he thanked the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for supporting the scheme.
The theme of this year’s Naenane Farmers week/Day in Zanzibar is: “Agriculture is wealth, everyone will cultivate,” and the President expressed his appreciation to various players including development partners, who have shown willingness to support agriculture because it creates jobs for the majority young people.
Dr Mwinyi said the Zanzibar revolutionary government encourages young people to focus on agricultural sector, and that plans have been made to ask various institutions including banks to help provide them with an enabling environment to get loans.
“That is our direction, we want young people to focus on investing in agriculture including crops’ production, poultry and livestock so that many young people are able to get employed instead of remaining idle in the streets,” he said.
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Speaking earlier at the opening of the Nanenane farmers week in Zanzibar, to be closed on 18th August this year, the Minister for Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources and Livestock, Mr Shamata Shaame Khamis, said farming in Zanzibar has been going on well and increasing quality products,” adding that there is still much to be done to achieve development goals.
He praised Dr Mwinyi for his great efforts to promote agriculture as it also plays a major role in economic growth and food security and supply. “We need to produce enough at home for ourselves, booming tourists’ hotels and reduce importing from abroad,” he said.
He informed the gathering that currently the contribution of agricultural sector to the Zanzibar GDP is 24.9 per cent, a move that gives great hope for further development to tackle unemployment in the country and boost individual income.
Mr Shamata explained, “Assessing the agricultural sector in the past three years, it has indicated to bring hope to achieve our goals as the production of various products including vegetables and some fruits have increased, meeting the demand in the domestic market and reduce imports from abroad.”
Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources and Livestock, Mr Ali Khamis commended the local and foreign organisations and institutions for responding to the call to participate in the agricultural exhibition in Zanzibar, which is another great opportunity to show the services and products.
In addition, he praised financial institutions and banks such as the NMB bank for its willingness to empower small breeders by leasing to them cows for milk production, urging other people to show institutions to support agriculture.
The 2024 Zanzibar’s seventh Nanenane farmers exhibition week has attracted various local (Zanzibar and Mainland) and international institutions and companies including entrepreneurs, manufacturers and suppliers of farm-inputs.
