Africa-Press – Tanzania. VICE-PRESIDENT Dr Philip Mpango has called on leaders to play a proactive role in advancing the National Development Vision 2050 and agricultural sector strategies aimed at increasing annual Samia demands standards sector growth to 10 per cent by 2030 and beyond.
Dr Mpango made the remarks yesterday when officiating the Farmers’ Exhibition, famously known as Nanenane, at Nzuguni grounds on the outskirts of Dodoma.
He said that both current leaders and those to be elected in the upcoming General Election must ensure that farmers, livestock keepers and fishers are well-guided to help achieve the country’s ambitious targets.
The VP urged leaders to take responsibility for realising the vision, citing this year’s Nanenane theme “Choose Good Leaders for Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries 2025.”
“This theme was specifically chosen to remind us of the importance of good leadership in boosting productivity in agriculture, livestock and fisheries, especially as we approach the General Election in October 2025,” he said.
Dr Mpango outlined key responsibilities for leaders, including guiding farmers to focus on high-value crops, investing in modern livestock production to meet local and international market demands, expanding fisheries and aquaculture and attracting local and foreign investment in cold-storage and transportation infrastructure.
Other areas include strengthening agribusiness, promoting major investments in modern agricultural technologies such as smart agriculture, expanding irrigation, improving access to finance and capital and ensuring reliable markets.
Addressing agriculture stakeholders including farmers, financial institutions and public and private sector representatives, Dr Mpango stressed the need to support economic empowerment, especially through access to capital, technology, training and extension services that promote best agricultural practices.
He further called on leaders to champion the implementation of policies and strategies that support rapid agricultural growth, particularly in infrastructure, research and education.
The VP also urged leaders to promote climateresilient practices, practical training for agricultural professionals and continuous monitoring and evaluation of sector projects.
Additionally, he encouraged educating stakeholders about available financial opportunities through institutions like NMB, CRDB, TADB and others.
On her part, Singida Regional Commissioner Halima Dendego praised ongoing reforms in fiscal and agricultural policies, attributing a 4 per cent sector growth to President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s political will and leadership.
She also applauded the launch of the Cooperative Bank (COOP Bank) earlier this year, saying it would help address financial gaps among smallholder farmers and further transform the sector.
As the host region for the nationally celebrated exhibition, RC Dendego warned that climate change continues to pose significant threats to agriculture. She called on the Ministry of Agriculture to enhance farmer empowerment through new techniques, technologies and environmental conservation.
On Thursday, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Gerald Mweli, announced that the Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB) is the main sponsor of this year’s exhibition, contributing 400m/-.
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