Donors agree to support Kilimo Kwanza

TANZANIA’s development partners have agreed to support ‘Agriculture First’ (Kilimo Kwanza) concept and the private sector have been urged to implement resolutions to bring about green revolution in the country.

This was made clear at a meeting on Friday between the government, private sector and development partners where the government explained the concept to them so that they can understand and contribute to the implementation of the resolution.

“There are no more doubts among the development partners on the country’s ‘Agriculture First’ (Kilimo Kwanza) initiative as they have come to terms with it,” said Chief Secretary in the President’s Office, Phillemon Luhanjo, in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

He said: “I am grateful to say that our development partners have understood the concept and support it, and so we urge the private sector to take part in implementing the concept.”

The Tanzania National Business Council (TNBC), under its Chairman, President Jakaya Kikwete, held a two-day meeting in June 2009, to discuss the policies and strategies for the transformation of Tanzania’s agriculture under the theme ‘Agriculture First’ and its implementation.

Mr Luhanjo, who is also the Chairman of Tanzania National Business Council (TNBC), said that the meeting was aimed at clearing the confusion that led to the failure by some donors to understand the whole concept of ‘Agriculture First’.

Mr Luhanjo has also called upon small farmers to improve their agricultural activities so that they can go commercial to make them profitable, because the main objective of the concept was to transform agriculture into commercial entity.

Although the government has already planned on how to implement the project which includes looking for markets, implements, land, good seeds and experts; stakeholders’ support was necessary, he said.

Speaking on behalf of the donors, the Ambassador of Ireland to Tanzania, Ms Anne Barrington, supported the ‘Agriculture First’ policy demanding the private sector to take part in the implementation and its reinforcement.

“We as diplomats did have the opportunity to understand the concept and everyone of us has learned that the private sector participation is key to reaching the goals that are intended and the policy should also be supported by the people,” she said.

She said the success of Kilimo Kwanza cannot be realized overnight, but it is a long term strategy and urged people to support efforts taken to implement it.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of TNBC working group, Mr Felix Mosha, said that since the donors have understood the concept, it was important for them to support its implementation.

The Chairperson of Private Sector, Ms Esther Mkwizu, said that her organization has received positively developments about ‘Agriculture First’ and they were looking forward to play their part as well as enabling the farmers to implement this concept.