‘Agriculture must reap big from TZ-China relations’
DAR ES SALAAM: SOME economists have called for Tanzania to fully exploit the existing good relations with China by strengthening investments in the agriculture sector.
They argued that basing on China’s advancement in agricultural technologies, Tanzania, where 60 per cent of its population engages in agriculture, is poised to reap benefits as it capitalises on the mutual relations.
They were speaking in Dar es Salaam in a policy dialogue on Tanzania-China Development Learning and Development Cooperation, jointly organised jointly by the Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) and the College of International Development and Global Agriculture (CIDGA) at China Agricultural University (CAU).
During the panel discussion, a panelist, economist Prof Humphrey Moshi, who is the Director of Centre for Chinese Studies at the University of Dar Es Salaam (UDSM), argued that out of total Chinese investments in Tanzania, only two per cent has been channeled to the agriculture sector.
“So, there is a pressing need to increase investment. We have to invest more in agriculture and you (Chinese investors) should scale up your investment in agriculture from the current two per cent to at least 30 per cent,” Prof Moshi told Chinese delegates.
Prof Moshi stressed: “The relationship of the two countries should also promote the use of solar and wind in Tanzania so that the country could reduce dependence on hydropower. “Beyond 60 years of relations, these are areas that China and Tanzania could focus on.”
Commenting, Dr Hoseana Lunogelo, ESRF Research Associate and Former ESRF Executive Director, insisted on the role of mechanisation and how Tanzania has benefited from the agriculture mechanisation, with the coming of Chinese simple and cheap agricultural technologies.
“The coming of Chinese simple technologies has made many Tanzanians afford to buy some simple farm implements such as power tillers,” Dr Lunogelo argued.
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He said these simple machineries have helped much in land preparations as farmers increase production and productivity.
“We now see young people shifting to agriculture as Chinese simple agriculture technologies come in different packages, including those for land preparation, cultivation and harvesting.
“The mechanisation is critical as we create more employment and the Chinese technology has helped in creating more employment,” he stated.
ESRF’s Executive Director Prof Fortunata Makene underlined the importance of linkages between the various sectors.
For instance, Prof Makene said Tanzania’s industries should learn more about various technologies from Chinese and localise them, considering local context.
