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Title: ASA's Irrigation Schemes Project At Kilimi Seed Estate Impresses Parliamentary Committee
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By Valentine Oforo, Tabora THE Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Livestock has expressed to have been ...





By Valentine Oforo, Tabora


THE Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Livestock has expressed to have been satisfied with the spending of 6.3bn/- in the project for the installation work for the modern irrigation infrastructure scheme at the seed estate of the Agricultural Seed Agency ASA in Nzega district of Tabora Region.


Speaking to journalists during a special tour to inspect progression of the vital project, the chairperson of the committee, Ms. Mariam Ditopile Mzuzuri (MP) said the committee is satisfied with the value of money spent on the project.


She added that the members of the committee have see and impressed with the professional manner to which the government has taken serious steps to improve investment in the production of agricultural seeds.


"We have come here to this ASA's Kilimi seed farm, and we have see for ourselves how much ASA is making important stride towards seed production in the country, " she observed.


She explained that the investment so far made in the project at the farm is large, insisted that the committee will stand at forefront to ensure the invested funds produce the expected results.







"Among others, this committee is responsible for monitoring and ensuring the money injected by the government to facilitate implementation of this project fetches needed end- results. But calling spade a spade, we have to a greater extent satisfied with the speed and standards in the implementation of this project, " she added.


And, MP Ditopile hailed the management of the state- owned seed production agency (ASA) through effective leadership of its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Sophia Kashenge for bridging efforts with the Ministry of Agriculture in ensuring the disbursed funds was well spent to help scaling up the country’s seed production sector.


"We have also been delighted with the patriotic tendency through which ASA's management engaging and enabling some young people to learn the technology of operating the Center Pivot Irrigation Machines (CPIM), which is a new technology in the country," the MP appreciated on behalf of the committee.


She challenged the youth that are being engaged in the project to work diligently to acquire vital skills in order to impart the same to others across the country for the betterment of the side.


For his part, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mr. David Silinde expressed that the government's main objectives was to see the country is making potential development in the production of key seeds for numerous crops.


"President Samia Suluhu Hassan is working hard, and very determined to assure the country produces enough improved seeds, to quench the thirst of home demand, but also standing a possible side to start exporting to other countries," the Minister expounded.


He spoke over the need for the stakeholders in the private sector to chip in and cooperate with ASA to heighten the extent and quality of seed production in the country.


For her part, ASA's Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Sophia Kashenge said completion of the ongoing project at Kilimi seed farm will play pivotal role in increasing the availability of quality agricultural seeds to the farmers across the country.







Dr. Kashenge thanked the committee for visiting and inspecting progression work of the mega project, unveiled that the first phase has been completed by at least 90.3 percent, covering a total of 220 hectares, being out of the intended 400 hectares.


She briefed that, demand for seed supply in 2023/24 season stand at approximately 124,000 tons, whereby the availability is only 44,000 tons.


"Literally, the trend communicating a clear message over the need for increased production, as well as efforts to strengthen working ties with the private sector in order to scale up the scope in the production of quality seeds," she observed.

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