‘We should remember Nyerere by establishing irrigation schemes

MARA: MUSOMA Rural Constituency’s Member of Parliament (MP), Professor Sospeter Muhongo has said establishment of irrigation schemes is amongst great ideas as Tanzania marks 24th year death anniversary of the Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.

He told the ‘Daily News’ on Wednesday that irrigation schemes would help  farmers boost productivity of agricultural activities which will improve their livelihoods and boost growth and development of the nation.

“The father of the nation prioritised agriculture by establishing factories for farming tools, fertilisers, factories for livestock and fisheries products,” Prof Muhongo said.

“Mwalimu Nyerere established agricultural universities and colleges for producing various agricultural experts, to help strengthen the sector as the backbone of our country’s economy,” Prof Muhongo said.

He said Mwalimu Nyerere also established farming cooperative unions and opened diplomatic cooperation with foreign countries in the areas of agriculture.

Furthermore, Prof Muhongo said Mwalimu Nyerere also established the National Services (JKT), with vast areas for farming and introduced Famers’ Day (Saba Saba), to instill a spirit of farming to all citizens.

“Nyerere took some youths abroad, for them to pursue farming, fisheries and livestock studies,” he said.

In Musoma District, Prof Muhongo said the first phase government led by Mwalimu Nyerere in 1974 initiated the Bugwema Basin Irrigation Scheme Project, which has since stalled.

He thanked President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan for reviving the scheme in making the Mwalimu Nyerere dream a reality.

This project will provide opportunity for both small scale and large-scale farmers to exploit, thus assuring sustainable food availability in Musoma Rural areas.