Seeds estates to be installed with irrigation schemes

This plan been unveiled by the agriculture minister Hussein Bashe in his media briefing held over the weekend in Dodoma.

He expounded that, the Ministry of Agriculture was very seriously to work round the clock to help boost production and availability of all key crops seeds.

According to the Minister, this will stimulate elevating production of enough economic cash crops to enable the country attaining its top focus of pushing crops export incomes from the current 1.2bn/- annually to at least 5bn/- by 2030.

"We're also focusing to make Tanzania the seeds hub and thus, start marketing numerous crops seeds to different neighbouring counties, " he expressed.

He said during the current fiscal year, the government has allocated 360bn/- to facilitate a major project for the installation of modern irrigation schemes at its 17 seeds producing centres.

According to Tanzania Agricultural Seeds Agency (ASA), ASA's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Sophia Kashenge, the Agency has already started to improve some of the seeds plantations.

She said  ASA  has already installed at least seven modern irrigation infrastructure at it's Tabora-based Kilimi seeds farm in the Nzega district of Tabora Region, covering a total of 200 hectares in the first phase.

Dr. Kashenge said other 200 hectares at the farm will be facilitated the same facility under the second phase of the project undertaken by the Pro Agro Global Company Ltd.

Similar project was currently being implemented at the other two seeds farms, including Msimba (200 ha) and the Ngaramtoni in Arusha, covering 200 hectares.

Tanzania needs an estimated 250,000 hectares to quench the county's seeds thirst by producing at least 300,000 tons annually.

The currently the total area used for seeds production in the country is around 16,000 hectares, whereby seeds production is only at 50,000tons.

On her part, the chaiperson of the of ASA's Board of Directors, Dr. Ashura Kihupi expressed satisfaction with the manner to which the government has been facilitating the Agency to fulfil its key roles.