Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE government through the National Irrigation Commission, plans to drill 500 irrigation wells in the 2025/2026 financial year as part of its efforts to expand irrigated land and enhance agricultural productivity.
Minister for Agriculture Mr Hussein Bashe informed the National Assembly yesterday while presenting a 1.24tri/- budget estimates for his docket for the 2025/26 financial year. He said that the wells are expected to irrigate 30,393.39 hectors of land in 178 councils and benefits 58,903 farmers.
the 2024/2025 financial year, the Ministry, through the National Irrigation Commission, was allocated a total of 393.435bn/- for the implementation of 780 irrigation projects covering a total of 543,366.46 hectares.
Bashe said that the Ministry, through the National Irrigation Commission, has continued to implement 780 projects noting that of these, 125 projects covering 237,005.46 hectares involve construction and rehabilitation, with 12 of them already completed.
He said 114 projects are for feasibility studies and construction of dams with an estimated total volume of 1.18 billion cubic meters adding that among them, 19 dams are under construction and two have been completed.
Bashe noted that the government has increased the number of irrigation projects from 13 in 2020/2021 to 780 in 2024/2025.
“These projects, covering an area of 543,366.46 hectares, are estimated to cost 1,345,813,904,141.73… upon completion, the ongoing 780 projects will expand the total irrigated area to 1,270,647.06 hectares,” he said.
Bashe added that the Ministry will provide agribusiness training to youth and women selected by their local councils to implement the project.
“Under the implementation of the BBT (Building a Better Tomorrow) programme at the local government level, the Tanzania Tobacco Board will establish tobacco farms covering 150 acres in Uyui District Council (50 acres) and Chunya District Council (100 acres),” he said.
He further said that in the 2025/2026 financial year, the Ministry will identify, survey and acquire 80,000 hectares of farmland for agribusiness investment in the regions of Singida, Njombe, Mara, Geita, Tabora, Mbeya, Songwe and Tanga.
Early last month, the Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Mr David Silinde said his docket through the National Irrigation Commission has planned to implement various irrigation projects in the country, including the Udimaa and Mbwasa irrigation schemes located in the Manyoni District Council.
He was responding to a basic question from Mr Pius Chaya (Manyoni EastCCM) who wanted to know when the government will start implementing the irrigation scheme projects in Udimaa and Mbwasa in Manyoni District, Singida Region.
Mr Silinde said his Ministry through the National Irrigation Commission, has completed the feasibility study and detailed design for the Udimaa and Mbwasa schemes for construction.
“The procurement procedures for the construction of the Mbwasa scheme were completed in February 2025 and the contractor has been handed over the project area,” he said.
He added that the Udimaa scheme was listed for contractor selection but the procurement process was not completed. The scheme has been readvertised to find a contractor who will complete the construction.
The Deputy Minister said the completion of the projects will benefit more than 13,000 residents from the villages of Kintinku, Mbwasa, Mwiboo, Chikuyu, Chilejeho and Mtiwe, which are located in the Manyoni District Council.
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