Africa-Press – Tanzania. DODOMA Regional Commissioner, Mr Anthony Mtaka has challenged entrepreneurs, processors and packers of wineries to expand their market scope to venture into the East Africa and SADC markets.
He said the wine industry in Dodoma has a great potential to excel if the stakeholders choose to be innovative and use the incentives availed by the government now that grape has been listed as a strategic crop.
With the notion, he said, the wineries entrepreneurs, processors and packagers should not only come up with quality and standard products, but also think of opportunities available in East Africa and SADC blocks.
Mr Mtaka gave the advice when opening a training for grape farmers in central zone, which intended to equip them with skills on value addition to reap the needed benefit from their produce.
“The training is meant to support you by equipping you with skills for increased productivity and value addition, taking into consideration that some of our neighbouring countries do not carry grape farming, therefore use the opportunity effectively” he said.
He said the government wants to empower the farmers as well as those involved in value chain addition to increase the industry contribution to the economic development.
The RC paid special attention to processors and packaging specialists to exercise excellence so that the products fetch market both locally, regionally and international circles.
Recently, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said the sixth phase government is committed to boost grape farming, and ensure value addition for enhanced economic benefits among its growers.
“The sixth phase government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan is committed to improve and develop grapes farming for more productivity to farmers,” he said.
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 potential for 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 on time to farmers to increase grape production in the country.
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.
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.
For More News And Analysis About Tanzania Follow Africa-Press
