WVT to spend 27.8bn/- in empowering farmers

THE Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with a Non-Governmental Organisation World Vision Tanzania is expecting to spend 11.4 million US dollars to implement the second plan aimed at empowering farmers by assisting them to get capital, modern equipment and reliable markets for their produce.

Speaking in Dodoma recently during the launch of the plan, World Vision Tanzania Director, James Anditi said that farmers are still facing various challenges, including poor access to agricultural inputs and lack of reliable markets.

“We expect to reach 1.2 million farmers through this programme and help them get capital, markets and modern equipment so that they can produce profitably… we expect to spend a total of 11.4 million US dollars,” he said.

On his part, the Director for Better Land Use from the Ministry of Agriculture, John Mdeke said that his docket has reached an agreement aimed at collaborating with the World Vision Tanzania to help farmers find markets for their crops so that they can do commercial farming.

Mdeke said that agricultural production has been increasing due to good strategies implemented by the government, but the issue of lack of markets is still a challenge to farmers.

He argued that the World Vision Tanzania should ensure that it also focuses on motivating farmers to change their thinking and shun traditional farming and instead focus on commercial agriculture which will be beneficial to them.

Mdeke said that in order to ensure that agricultural activities are improved, the government has started a soil testing programme to help farmers understand the nature of the soil.

“If a farmer is aware of the nature of the soil, it will help him understand the type of seeds and other inputs to be used in the area thus boost production,” he said.

He added: “the move will also help farmers to know the amount of fertiliser they should use, because without knowing they can use too much or too little.”

On her part, the Chamwino District Commissioner Gifti Msuya said that it is important to have a database for farmers in order to facilitate loans provision.

Msuya thanked World Vision Tanzania for their effort to collaborate with the government to achieve farmers’ objectives, especially in value addition to their crops and ensuring reliable markets.