Posted on December, 11, 2017 at 10:45 am
TANZANIA will realise its industrialisation drive and become the middle-income country if the agricultural sector is prioritised and improved, an expert from the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT), has advised.
Speaking to reporters in Dar es Salaam over the weekend, SAGCOT head of finance and accountancy, Anna Mtaita said if well invested and improved, agriculture could play a vital role in the industrialisation process.
“The government’s industrialisation drive under the fifth phase government is real and President John Magufuli has already shown his determination towards its realisation, but what I can see now is that more investments and strides should be made to improving the sector,”
she said.
He cited Mbarali and Ihemi SAGCOT clusters in Mbeya and Njombe region respectively as among the areas that will contribute well to the drive producing enough raw materials for the industries.
“We have all the resources, we have everything, what is needed now is strategic plans and political will on improving sectors and enable them
to play a critical role in the industrialisation agenda,” she added.
She said that all over the world, factories depend mostly on raw materials from farms so what is needed also is to empower small scale-farmers and enable them to produce as more to cater for the needs.
According to her, there are hundreds of factories that died only because they lacked a suitable supply of raw materials.
She also called upon the government to expand its support to SAGCOT so that it will be able to reach more farmers across the country.
“Areas that still need government’s support includes the agriculture equipment supply, infrastructures of water, roads, and electricity...tea
growers are the ones who are in dire need of roads infrastructures,” she added
Mtaita also unveiled that the institution was also working to improving its financial systems to ensure that every donor’s fund is properly used to bring positive impacts to the community and the country at large.
The Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) is an inclusive, multi-stakeholder partnership to rapidly develop the region’s agricultural potential. It was initiated at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Africa summit 2010 with the support of founding partners including farmers, agri-business, the government and companies from across the private sector.
SAGCOT’s objective is to foster inclusive, commercially successful agribusinesses that will benefit the region’s small-scale farmers, and in so doing, improve food security, reduce rural poverty and ensure environmental sustainability.
Source: IPP Media