We're set to double food production - Katavi RC

 KATAVI Region is expected to double crop production in the next two years, in its efforts to retain its position as the country’s main food basket.

 

Katavi Regional Commissioner, Dr Abraham Msengi, disclosed this at the weekend when speaking in Dar es Salaam before Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa as the former presented his regional status report to a meeting organised by Rukwa and Katavi Development Forum.

 

His remarks came barely a few weeks after President John Magufuli urged all regional and district commissioners to ensure that their areas of jurisdiction have enough food and use the current rains to grow food crops.

 

He said there was an increase in farmland from 244,450 hectares in 2013 to 269,814 hectares last year, equivalent to an increase of 51 per cent. He said projections showed that by 2018 the region will have cultivated 532,671 hectares. 

 

The RC also issued an assurance that his region has enough food stock, hence people in the area are free from hunger. The RC said despite the challenges of Climate Change which leads to environmental degradation, education will be provided to the community with areas planned for agricultural activities being given consideration.

 

“Katavi is a food reserve region, though Climate Change is menacing due to wanton tree felling, and overgrazing. But we’re determined to accomplish our role,” he said.

 

In addition, he noted challenges in other sectors, including the lack of specialists in various departments, poor working conditions for public officials, lack of working facilities and settlements. 

“Poor transport remained a serious challenge facing the region,” he said.

 

For his part, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa urged them to solve the challenges to tap easily into the existing opportunities in sectors such as tourism, agriculture and modern animal husbandry. He admitted that Katavi was one of the regions leading for food crop production.

 “Let’s use this opportunity to generate additional, modern livestock-rearing technologies as there is a huge market for meat outside  the country. This income will help people at the grassroots level and the nation at large.”