She said Songwe region, which falls within the Mbalali Cluster in SAGCOT initiative, was one of the gifted areas for agriculture and potential in the agri-businesses that has not been fully tapped.
Speaking at a Strategic meeting to review implementation of the SAGCOT’s Agricultural Development in the Southern Highlands, the regional Commissioner said there was need to treat Songwe as a a priority in agricultural development.
“For Songwe region to unleash its full potential in agriculture and associated activities, there is need to ensure that we are assisted in terms of scouting for investors in the agriculture and processing agricultural produce,” she said.
She said so far, the region had identified special green belt for the horticulture and flowers together with the industrial park near the Songwe International Airport, which is accessible to both Dar es salaam-mbeya highway and TAZARA train transport.
The RC said lake Rukwa basin has also been identified for the production of rice, while Ileje district, which she said is a major producer of quality pyrethrum in the country had been identified to develop coffee, sunflower, avocadoes, maize and other legume products. Mbozi district she said had also identified the same crops.
She said out of the 12 divisions available in the regions, 7 have identified Sunflower, as a priority products, saying the challenges have been in ensuring that seeds for the cash crops are available to farmers in time.
Speaking at the same meeting, the Chief Executive Officer of SAGCOT, Mr Geoffrey Kirenga said the two-day meeting, which ended yesterday was meant to review implementation of the SAGCOT initiatives in the Ihemi Cluster.
.jpeg?itok=bWAbquee)
