Farmers in Rukwa have started eying Congo/Zambia markets as construction of number of roads in the region get close to completion.
Speaking to ‘Sunday News’ in Dar es Salaam, a member of Tuinuane SACCOS and the deputy manager Gracian Kalembo said that many of their members are farmers and small entrepreneurs who need developed infrastructure to transport their products to bigger market points.
‘The challenge for farmers is reaching markets, so such reasons will be important for us to reach those markets,”he said. He noted that if the roads are completed the expectation is that this will open up the region to the 3 bordering countries and to major towns across the country.
“The major roads thereafter will open up farmers in deeper rural areas to major highways where there are small market points for their produce, “said Kalembo Speaking on behalf of Matayi farmers, Mwakolo Hassan, a farmer, said they also expect political leaders to push for faster work on the Kasesha road-which heads to Zambia, so that farmers can make use of it to transport their produce to bigger markets.
“It is easier for our members who are farmers to reach Zambia through that road and the one leading to Kasanga port on the side of DR Congo,” he noted.
SACCOS, a group in the Matayi area, Sumbawanga was started with 28 people in 2004 with 1.2m/- along the objective of growing economy of members and improving their lives. But it has now grown to over 100. Kasanga port, which has roads heading to Burundi and DR Congo is also currently under expansion.
“The road being constructed between Sumbawanga and Kasanga is going to be very useful for us because the border has bigger and ready markets for our agricultural produce,” he said.
Farmer Vitas Tenganamba at Matayi, who was also loaned a tractor from his SACCOS, also suggested that the government construct bigger storage warehouses for more effective storage capacity.
The Sumbawanga District Administrative Secretary Salum Chima admitted that infrastructure problems have in the past hindered farmers from reaping better returns and failing to live a comfortable life for years. The region head of Production Mzava Willy said surplus next year is expected to grow both for food crops and cash crops.
By ORTON KIISHWEKO, Tanzania Daily News
