DEPUTY Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Abdallah Ulega, has vowed to ensure interest-free loans endorsed by the government reach eligible small-scale anglers and those struggling to have viable fish farming projects.
Welcoming the Minister for Livestock and Fishery, Mr Mashimba Ndaki, to speak at a signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Ministry and the Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB) on the loans for funds small scale fisheries projects and livestock keepers, Mr Ulega said the government wants to change the livestock and fishery sectors starting at the grassroots.
“I shall struggle tooth and nail and ensure this money reaches all eligible applicants and has a big impact on their lives,” Mr Ulega vowed.
He called on the TADB to emulate the president’s readiness and enthusiasm to pull poor people out of poverty and ensure the interest-free loans reach small-scale anglers and farmers without undue difficulties.
He also challenged TADB to be innovative and cooperate with the ministry and other institutions in conceiving small-scale projects that will reach many people countrywide so that, he explained, the planned huge animal feed factory becomes a reality and keepers get the feeds at good prices.
Last year, while addressing the Parliament in Dodoma, President Samia Suluhu Hassan promised to transform livestock and fishing sectors to contribute to economic growth and development.
“We (government) will find a way to financially empower TADB so that it could provide more soft loans to as many small farmers, herders and farmers as possible,” the president stressed.
The MoU was signed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Rashid Tamatama and TADB Managing Director, Mr Frank Nyabundege.
