Njombe allots 87,000 ha for extensive avocado production 

At the farm it is expected that, at least 60,000 hectares will specifically be used for the cultivation of avocado, whereby the remaining land will harbor horticulture activities and a state- of - the- art dairy project.

Njombe Regional Commissioner (RC) Anthony Mtaka said yesterday that work for the preparation of the project was at an advanced stage.

He added, after finalising all basic and necessary preparations, the region will advertise the farm to the public with   to get serious investors who will own some hectares within the modern estate, based on areas of their interests.

“If all goes as planned, the farm will be ready to start its business from February and March, 2024, the time when we will start to open doors for prospective investors to apply for opportunities to chip in and invest," he unveiled.

The RC said that the possible investors, as per the involved plans, will be allowed to apply for investing from between one, two up to ten hectares, saying one hectare will be marketed at 5m/-.

"Our prior assessments have proved that most people have so far wasted a lot of their money to invest into diverse agriculture projects without fruitful results and thus, in this project we have set a friendly scheme to help them," he said.

Briefing over the set scheme, he said that under the vital project, the investors who will pay for the farming blocks, will receive the block farms that have already been cleared, tilled, planted with the best avocado seeds through applications of recommended fertilizers.

In order to ensure the project runs successfully, he said they have already entered into special working contracts with the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) and The Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI- Uyole) for the effective management of the productive area.

"I am appealing to all of the well - wishers, from both the public and private sector to prepare themselves to grab the coming numerous economic potentials under the farm in order to improve their livelihoods," he urged.

He said the regional authorities were also holding talks with the National Housing Corporation (NHC) over the possibility to erect a number of housing units within the vast estate, for accommodating some investors, but chiefly the agro processors who will be responsible for the daily monitoring of the diverse initiatives under the farm.

Currently it is estimated that over 10,000 farmers across the country are involved in avocados production.