Govt for more investment in food processing

The permanent secretary in the ministry of agriculture, food security and cooperatives, Sophia Kaduma

The government has called on investors to chip-in and invest in fruits and vegetable processing to add value to the country’s agro-products.

 

The permanent secretary in the ministry of agriculture, food security and cooperatives, Sophia Kaduma made the call here at the     weekend  when speaking at the 3rd Agribusiness Expo 2015, held at the Selian Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) grounds located few kilometres from Arusha city centre.

 

The event was organised by Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) and attracted more than 500 farmers and exhibitors from across the country.

 

“Despite the fact, farmers have encouraged to grow more fruits and different types of vegetables, but the challenge remains on reliable markets…that is why we are to encourage local and foreign investors to come and invest in the sector,” Kaduma said.

 

He said food processing is an area which was yet to be tapped in Tanzania; hence the need for investors to explore the opportunity remained important.

 

She said there were more people who grow different varieties of crops like tomatoes but during the harvesting season more tomatoes rot in farms because of the market   unavailability.

 

“But, if there were food processing plants in place the challenge could be addressed, and our farmers would have got their returns,” she suggested.

 

She however said her ministry was working with other line ministries on the possibilities of trimming off taxes on food processing plants for the benefit of the agricultural sector.

 

Kaduma also asked the Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA) to compliment government’s endeavours by encouraging more stakeholders to invest in the sector.

 

She however informed the participants that in the next planting season the government was to resume the former agricultural input voucher scheme, for the benefit of smallholder farmers in the country.

 

According to her, the farm input system will include improved seeds of maize and rice as well as fertilizers.

 

“But, farmers shouldn’t sell fertilizers to anybody but rather use it to improve your crop yields,” she said, adding that previously some farmers used to sell the subsidised fertilizers to other people who have money.

 

EAGC chief executive officer, Gerald Masila said the expo was meant to empower farmers with better farming skills as well as linking them with traders and other players.

 

He also said the Agribusiness Expo was one of its kind that brings together all players in the agribusiness industry who exhibit their wares and services and always serves as a one-stop shop that creates a face-to-face encounter between the service providers and the users/buyers- in this case the farming community.

 

The expo targeted players in the agro-industry, including agro dealers, farm implements traders, food processors, players in the financial sector including banks, insurance companies, and research institutions, among others.

BY LUSEKELO PHILEMON - The guardian