PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has directed the Ministry of Finance and Planning to prioritize the execution of District Agriculture Development Plans (DADPs) including raising funds to facilitate their implementation.
The Premier issued the directives yesterday at the launch of DADPs in Dodoma calling upon financial institutions to put in place a system that will allow title deeds for farmers to be used as collateral for accessing loans. Majaliwa directed all councils in the country to ensure that they allocate funds from their internal sources for the implementation of development plans for agriculture, livestock and fisheries at the district level.
“Since a high percentage of the resources for the implementation of Agricultural Sector Development Programme (ASDP) II are at local government authorities, financial management should be enhanced to Regional Commissioners, Regional Administrative Secretaries, and District Executive Directors. The Premier further instructed President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Governments through all councils in the country to continue allocating land for wananchi to carry out agricultural and livestock activities.
“President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Governments should prepare and oversee execution of a strategic plan for monitoring the performance of extension officers in order to increase production and efficiency in agriculture,” he said.
The Minister of State, President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government, Innocent Bashungwa pledged to cooperate with the Ministry of Agriculture to execute the development plans by raising funds and ensure proper expenditure.
He said that they would also strengthen Information Communication Technology systems in the agriculture sector and facilitate the availability of financial services. Bashungwa noted that the main objective for ASDP II was to transform agriculture, livestock and fishery sectors in order to increase production and efficiency to ensure food security, increase income to farmers and the nation in general.
He said the objective would only be attained by transforming farmers from subsistence to commercial farming, produce basing on market demand.
Mr Bashungwa also noted that his office would review and improve policy, guidelines business climate for agriculture, fisheries and livestock together with improving systems and farmers associations.
The Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Mashimba Ndaki said that his office would issue guidelines and oversee implementation of the plans in order to increase efficiency in livestock and fisheries sectors hence increase national income.
The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa Vice President Apollos Nwafor said his institution would continue to cooperate with the government in order to bring about transformation in the agriculture sector.
He also commended the government for various efforts being done to improve and promote the growth of the agriculture sector, pledging to continue investing in the country.