Prisons need 13.7bn/- capital to boost production in 11 farms.

The Commissioner General of Prisons, John Minja.

Tanzania Prisons needs 13.7bn/- from Treasury to be invested in its 11 key farms countrywide, the Commissioner General of Prisons, John Minja, has said.

 

The investment is required to boost production of food to feed the over 38,000 prisoners in the country’s jails in the next five years.

 

Speaking in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday evening during review of a draft project proposal submitted by Prof Beatus Kundy from the University of Dar es Salaam to senior prisons officers, Minja said former President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete has endorsed the plan.

 

“We are therefore fine tuning this proposal so that we can finally hand it over to the Planning Commission to be included in the next five years development plan,” Minja said.

 

He said currently, Tanzania Prisons Services (TPS) is struggling to feed prisoners in its jails because the government’s allocations have not been enough and its own food production at major prisons farming projects was facing key challenges, including lack of capital and manpower.“If we get this investment from the government then we are sure that within the next five years, we will feed ourselves and Treasury subventions will not be required,” Minja noted. 

 

He said while the minimum bill to feed people in jails per annum was 51bn/-, Treasury disburses only 20.9bn/-.

 

The CGP pointed out that although the budget allocations were insufficient, Treasury also delays payments such that the disbursement backlog has peaked 25bn/- this year. 

 

“We need to go into commercial production to feed our people and sell the surplus,” Minja argued.

 

Presenting the draft proposal, Prof Kundy said currently, TPS can only meet 20 per cent of its food requirements.

 

“But if this investment is done on 11 key farms, which we identified based on their potential, accessibility and success stories, then by the third year of the project you can meet 75 per cent of your food needs,” Prof Kundy told the officers.

 

He pointed out that the 11 farms, eight of which are already doing semi commercial production under Prisons Corporation Sole, should have a separate project manager who will be in charge of daily activities.

 

“If this investment is made then you can be sure of feeding yourself and selling the surplus in the next five years,” Prof Kundy pointed out while challenging the senior prisons officers to work hard at each of their farms to deliver.

The 11 farms will produce maize, rice, beans, beef and palm oil. 

 

Currently, TPS produces 2,501.1 metric tonnes (MT) of maize against demand of 8,450.5MT per annum; 317.1MT of rice against demand of 1,976MT; 14.7MT of beans against demand of 1,308.7MT; 165,750MT of beef against demand of 592,800MT and meets demand of 416MT of edible oil per annum.   

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN