Africa-Press – Tanzania. TABORA region has introduced ‘Block Farming’ for the newly introduced cashewnut crop in a bid to boost the region’s economy.
The Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS), Mr Robert Makungu said the new type of farming is one of the projects, which started immediately after the Tabora Business Forum that was coordinated by the Tanzania Standard Newspapers Limited (TSN) a few years back.
The Forum focused on, among others, exposing various investment opportunities in the region. According to him, about 8,000 hectares (15,000 acres) have been set aside for prospective cashew nut farming investors in the Karangasi area, Tura Ward in Uyui District.
“Block Farm’ means each smallholder or investor will be allocated appropriate land area for cultivation and provided with a range of technical services including training, inputs and extension services so that we can have quality and quantity farm produce,” the RAS told this paper recently.
He added that the regional leadership is also in talks with various stakeholders, including the Agricultural Development Bank, Agricultural researchers and Cashew nuts Board, for availing quality and high-breed seeds, modern farming technologies as well as searching for reliable markets.
The region will sign a Memorundum of Understanding with investors to make sure the cashew nuts land is all the time occupied as per plan. It was further noted that the region will be also providing free plots for investors’ residences to attract as many cashewnuts growers as possible.
Apart from Uyui, some experts are currently testing the 30,000 hectares of soil in Kisasiga area of Nzega District, which was serving as livestock ranch, to establish if the land is suitable for cashewnuts farming.
