President Magufuli speaking before he launched the programme

The President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. John Magufuli on June 4 launched the Tshs. 13 trillion Agricultural Sector Development Programme’s Second Phase (ASDP II), which he said would accelerate the country’s industrialization drive.

Dr. Magufuli said with the thriving agricultural sector, the country stands a greater chance of having strong economy that will spark growth in other sectors.

He was speaking in Dar es Salaam at the launch of ASDP II project that seeks to have specific areas of research and special agricultural zones with few crops but serving many people.

Govt committment pledge 

President Magufuli said ASDP II will be executed efficiently with superb results, reminding that agricultural revolution was what was termed as the best catalyst in economic revolution.

“With ASDP, I believe we will solve all problems facing the agricultural sector and achieve our dream to industrialize the country,” he said.

The president gave the key priority areas during implementation the newly launched project as ensuring good production and distribution of enough seedlings.

Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) Chairperson Reginald Mengi said it was high time all Tanzanians supported the president’s self-spirited efforts to have food security in the country.

He reiterated his advice to have all Tanzanians believing in their capacity to perform, saying every Tanzanian can make it provided they believed in themselves.

The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Mr Mahmoud Mgimwa, reminded the nation on the need to reform agricultural sector, arguing that the sector contributes 29.1 per cent to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 65 per cent of employment opportunities and produces 70 per cent of raw materials in industries.

Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Charles Tizeba, assured that currently the country has no food problems, insisting that on agricultural inputs, the country was equally well.

Development Partners optimistic 

Speaking on behalf of the Development Partners' Agriculture Working Group at the launch, the Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Fred Kafeero, said that they were happy with the plan.

“We as Development Partners are encouraged by the efforts of the ministries of agriculture (both in the Mainland and Zanzibar) and the Government to prepare and endorse such a comprehensive and well-articulated programme,” he said. 

Mr. Kafeero said that they believed that the programme would contribute greatly to the national development strategy and government vision on industrialization. “We see this as an important driver for provision of raw materials and employment for the youth, men and women of Tanzania,” he added.