The Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Development, Mr William Ole Nasha, said in Karatu District, Arusha Region that the government was focused to promote growth of agricultural sector and solve problems that hinder growth of the sector.

 

"Agriculture holds a special significance in development of our country. Apart from making food available, it also contributes significantly in improving lives of communities and employment creation," he said during the barley farmers' day which saw the farmers coming together with other stakeholders in barley production and consumption chain to celebrate their day.

 

"The government is fully committed to deal with problems surrounding it through building better infrastructure that will cut down cost for transporting agricultural produce. We will continue to work shoulder to shoulder with investors who contribute to agricultural development and growth," he said.

 

He hailed TBL Group for making investment which goes in line with improving the livelihoods of barley farmers who have been by programs supported by the company which also make the government earn through taxes.

 

Your companies have been supporting farmers in number of ways right from the early production stages up to harvesting and selling guaranteeing them with reliable markets," he said.

 

Mr Ole Nasha said this year theme "Farmers Safety and Health," address critical issues since there have been a number of problems in working areas associated with failure to ensure maximum safety for workers.

 

On his side, SABMiller's Chief Executive Officer for barley production for Africa, Thinus Van Schoor said the company was committed to work with the farmers and transform their lives through the parent company's program dubbed Go farming which its implementation has started in several countries with its presence.

 

He further noted that, the main goal of the program is to improve the lives of small holder farmers, to increase the economic growth speed and create a better and sustainable way of accessing raw materials for TBL's group mother company, SABMiller in Africa.

 

"Go Farm program do not target to benefit barley farmers alone, it also targets to benefit farmers who grow other crops like millet and cassava and in the coming days maize farmers will be reached.

 

We anticipate that up to 2020 a total of half million farmers will be reached in various countries where the company has invested," he said.

 

He added that, the anticipated success in the program for year 2015 to 2020 shows a growth of 44 per cent in 10 countries where the implementation has started and it is estimated that the crop production would increase from 300,000 tonnes to over 600,000 tonnes.

 

Mr Bariki Kivuyo who is a barley farmer in Karatu District and who also spoke on behalf of other farmers said, the lives of many farmers have positively changed as a result of growing barley and urged the government to support them through providing them with technical skills and enabling them to access soft loans

Source : allafrica.com