MWANZA – Government of Tanzania has allocated 60,000 hectares of land in Mkulazi area for sugar and rice cultivation with coordination of Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC).
TIC helps in promoting, coordinating and facilitating investments in the country and is set up under the Tanzania Investment Act, No. 26 of 1997.
The 60,000 hectares site is located alongside the TAZARA railway link that links the Zambian border with Dar es Salaam, about 100 kms from Dar es Salaam.
Experts say Mkulazi is located in a favorable area to serve better the local, regional as well as global demands for sugar and rice markets.
Meanwhile, former Minister for Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives Christopher Chiza has assured that not a single land of farmers will be grabbed in the new plan. He added the project will not replace local residents in the area.
The commercial developers will gain from the government project, donors and private investors through Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT), which is an inclusive, multi-stakeholder partnership for the development of agriculture in the region.
The SAGCOT was initiated in 2010 at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Africa summit. It has been founded by the Tanzania government, agri-business, farmers and companies from across the private sector.
In the latest project the land will be divided as 40,000 hectares for sugar farming in two parts of 20,000 hectares each and the left 20,000 hectares to be used for rice farming in four parts of 5,000 hectares each.
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