Africa-Press – Tanzania. PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has said the sixth phase government is committed to boost grape farming, and ensure value addition for enhanced economic benefits among its growers.
Mr Majaliwa made the pledge when he made a field visit to grape block farms in Dodoma yesterday.
“The sixth phase government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan is committed to improve and develop grapes farming for more productivity to farmers,” he said during the tour organised by the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI).
Premier Majaliwa visited the centre to see its potential for seed production. He also visited grape wine factories, including the one owned by a small scale farmer — Phortunatus Kenyunko at Msalato area in Dodoma and the Hombolo based grape wine factory called Cetawico.
The PM noted that the government had launched a campaign to encourage the cultivation of grapes. He said the government will support farmers throughout the whole process including helping them to secure markets for their yields.
“The government has launched a campaign to encourage the cultivation of grapes. We want to help the farmers from when they prepare their farms, during cultivation till the point of selling their crops,” he said.
He said the government is planning to identify land with the potential for the establishment of large grape plantations.
In ensuring that the agriculture sector is thriving, the Prime Minister has called on financial institutions, including the Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB), to ensure they provide loans timely to farmers to increase grape production in the country.
The Prime Minister also visited the Hombolo grape irrigation scheme in Hombolo and urged farmers to protect the infrastructure.
He called on the farmers to oversee the efficient use of the infrastructure and not allow the canals to be misused. He said they must protect it against people who will not value the area by throwing grass or things that will block the channel.
Last year, the Parliament was told approximately 16,139 tonnes of grapes were produced in Tanzania in the 2018/19 season, of which 11,552 were sold to both domestic and foreign markets.
For years the government has been encouraging local investors and farmers to process their products in an attempt to add value to at least 15 tonnes from 2.25 tonnes per acre.
Grapes are widely produced in Dodoma but crop studies show there are potentials for it to be farmed in other regions including Singida, Tabora, Mara, Manyara, Tanga, Iringa and Ruvuma. During the last season, some 2,079 hectares were farmed in Dodoma.
Tanzania’s wine production stood at 122,200 litres in 2015, according to the latest data published in a market study of the Lutheran World Relief.
