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Proposed Agricultural Programme commendable
2006-07-10 08:46:04
By Editor
While launching the Minjingu Phosphates and Fertilizer Co in Manyara Region on Friday, President Jakaya Kikwete said the time was ripe for Tanzania to overhaul its agricultural sector.
The President said the Cabinet had endorsed an Agricultural Programme that is expected to cost 2,492bn/-,that would be implemented in a period of seven years.
Elaborating on the Programme, President Kikwete mentioned the areas to be given priorities as irrigation farming, quality seeds, use of fertilizes, infrastructure and markets for farm produce among other things and doing away with the hand-hoe.
We think this is an ambitious programme and if well planned and executed, Tanzania would not only be self sufficient in food production but would also be a big food exporter.
Of course a lot of expertise will be involved before the programme takes but we think we could mention one or two things that the ambitious programme could take on board.
Most farmers in the country own small land because the hand hoe would not sustain large scale farming.
The small plots they own, cannot be expected to yield, big quantities of farm produce that the programme is aiming at.
At the same time, it is not easy to help individual farmers in a country of more than 34 million people.
Definitely, modern farming implements like tractors would be needed.
Again, the country cannot equip all farmers with tractors.
A strategy to form cooperatives might be needed.
Tanzania has a mass of arable and virgin land which could be distributed to cooperatives after the necessary infrastructure is put in place.
Whichever way, we support the government for conceiving an idea that is surely going to free the country from perpetual hunger and begging for food.
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