He said the strategy is aimed at maximising the value of the crop and differentiate it from that produced in other parts of the world.
Addressing a campaign rally on Monday at Misuka grounds in Unguja North, Dr Shein said his government is working closely with the International Trade Centre (ITC) for the successful implementation of this process.
“The quality of Zanzibar cloves is better compared to that produced in other parts of the world, that is why we want to brand it so that it can be differentiated with cloves produced in other places,” he said.
He noted that his government has been taking measures to ensure that cloves remain the main cash crop of Zanzibar.
He said among the measures taken include revamping the cloves buying centres, reviewing prices and provide more than 2 million plants to farmers.Dr Shein said that in the past five years a kg of cloves was sold at 5000/- but today the price stand at 14,000/- per kg.
He said that if elected for a second term, he will increase the price of cloves to 20,000/- per kg.
Dr Shein said that in an effort to raise the production and exportation of high quality cloves, his government pays farmers 80 percent of the market price.
Meanwhile, Dr Shein has pledged to improve paddy farming in order to reduce importation of rice in the Isles.
He said that currently 60 percent of rice consumed in Zanzibar is imported and that he wants to make sure that the isles produce sufficient food.
He said that his government has been providing 75 percent subsidy to paddy growers to cover fertilisers, seeds and pesticides while the remaining 25 percent is being covered by the farmers themselves.
“This system has been successful in Unguja because it has helped to increase the yields we want. Now we want to implement it in Pemba,” he insisted.
He said the government will also provide paddy growers with modern farming tools such as tractors and also encourage irrigation farming.
Dr Shein said that the government has already ordered 100 tractors from India which will be provided to the farmers.
On education and health Dr Shein promised to improve the sectors, insisting that if elected, the services will be provided for free.
He said the government will also increase enrolment in nursery, primary and secondary schools in the next five years.
Dr Shein however said that plans were underway to construct ten secondary schools of which six will be built in Unguja and four in Pemba.
He said the government will allocate enough teachers for the new schools in a move to improve the quality of education offered in Isles.
For her part, the wife of the first president of Zanzibar, the late Abeid Amani Karume, Fatma Karume called upon people in the isles to vote for CCM because it has brought great changes in the archipelagos.
She said people should ignore the opposition parties because they have been reluctant to admit the changes brought by the ruling party.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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