The Poland government yesterday approved 240bn/- loan to Tanzania specifically for the construction of tractor’s assembly plant and the related equipment as well as construction of grain storage facilities.
According to the signed agreement, the loan is also meant to promote the use of tractors, power tillers, implements and farm machinery in agricultural sector.
Under the agreement signed in Dar es Salaam yesterday between Poland and Tanzania, the loan shall help to increase the country’s food storage capacity to more than 400,000 tones contrary to the current food storage capacity of 200,000 tones under the National Food Reserve Authority (NFRA).
Speaking soon after sealing the pact, the Minister for Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives, Stephen Wasira said the loan would help the country to expand grain storage facilities to accelerate agriculture modernisation.
He said that, the project will help to ensure the availability of the country’s food status as large tonnes of food will be stored at once.
“The project will at a large per cent help to transform the country from the application of local tools for farming to modernised agriculture,” he underlined. The minister explained that, the country was still lagging behind in agriculture production as about 60 per cent of farmers were using hand hoes, while 14 per cent used tractors and 20 per cent uses ploughs.
According to him, they will make sure that the country meets the target set out under Maputo declaration on agriculture and food security in Africa in 2003 which required member countries by 2025 did not use to adapt.
"The country agriculture production is minimal as most of farmers still depend on rains that alternatively don’t provide positive outcomes to them as of the effect posed by climate change," said the minister.
Wasira explained that, the project shall ensure the availability of more than 5,000 modern farming tractors per year contrary to 1200 tractors which we used to import for every year.
The private company based in Poland namely Ursus in collaboration with Suma JKT will be responsible for the assembly process of modern tractors that will be manufactured in the country, adding that Poland shall provide their technological assistance to the plant.
Hence, the project will turn the country into a major producer of modern tractors for farming leading to the improvement of internal and external markets for tractors.
For her part, Zofia Szalczyk Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Poland, said the fund shall help in the procurement of goods and services from Poland necessary for the implementation of the project.
By having such modern tractors assembling plant will help to ensure sustainable production of quality food in the country as well as availability of raw materials to feed other industries.
She added that, the construction of food storage was also crucial to ensure the country’s food security.
Commenting, Finance Minister Saada Mkuya noted that, successful implementation of this project will enable our country of technology transfer and industrial boost through the assembly of plants, to raise income generated opportunities in the rural areas.
The minister added that, the project shall help to transform subsistence farming activities into profitable businesses to which majority of farmers and business entrepreneurs could opt to venture with.
“I would like to reaffirm the government commitment towards implementation of this project, and that the government will make close monitoring to ensure that the quality of work meets the acceptable professional standards.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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