Why push to turn Morogoro into industrial hub crucial

TANZANIA: ECONOMISTS have praised the government’s commitment to revitalising Morogoro Region as an agricultural and industrial hub, asserting that this initiative is poised to significantly boost the trade of value-added agro-goods.

The experts noted that Morogoro is strategically located with a tropical climate and vast fertile land ideal for the extensive cultivation of both cash and food crops, such as sisal and rice. These crops require processing and manufacturing industries, which are essential for value addition.

Their comments follow President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan’s recent emphasis on revitalising Morogoro’s economic status.

On Tuesday, during a rally as part of her week-long visit to the region, she outlined the government’s plan to transform Morogoro into an industrial hub.

President Samia also revealed plans to develop the Kilombero Basin into an irrigation scheme.

This scheme aims to capture floodwater during the rainy season for use in agriculture during dry periods, allowing farmers to increase production and move away from rain-fed agriculture.

Dr Sylvester Jotta, a lecturer at Saint Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT), told the ‘Daily News’ that President Samia’s efforts to revitalise Morogoro as an industrial hub demonstrate a strong commitment to fully exploiting the region’s agricultural potential. Given Morogoro’s location and fertile land, Dr Jotta is optimistic about its potential to become an industrial hub.

“I am optimistic that Morogoro can become an industrial hub due to its strategic geographical location. It is up to the private sector to leverage the region’s natural features and the government’s infrastructure, including railways, electricity, roads and ports, to establish industries,” Dr Jotta said.

He added, “By doing so, we will boost our country’s economy.”

Dr Jotta highlighted Morogoro’s advantageous location between Dar es Salaam, the country’s business hub and Dodoma, the administrative capital. This positioning makes it easier for industrialists and farmers to access markets and export through the Dar es Salaam Port.

He also noted that enhancing the region’s farming production could significantly boost the agriculture sector’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Morogoro is among the top five producers of food crops, including rice, alongside Mbeya, Iringa, Rukwa and Ruvuma.

Currently, the agriculture sector contributes about 26 per cent to the GDP and employs over 60 per cent of the population. Additionally, Morogoro produces cash crops like sisal and sugar cane, which are crucial raw materials for establishing industries.

Dr Jotta praised the government’s plan to develop the Kilombero Basin into an irrigation scheme, aligning with the ruling party CCM’s 2020/2025 Election Manifesto, which aims to create infrastructure for effective use of natural resources, including land.

Historically, even colonialists established sisal plantations and processing industries in Morogoro to supply raw materials for export.

Dr Jotta emphasised that it is now up to the private sector to utilise the infrastructure provided by the government, to support industrialisation, warning that the government alone cannot establish all the needed factories.

Economist Dr Isaac Safari stated that President Samia’s recent visit to Morogoro serves as a call to action for citizens to seize opportunities in agri-business and manufacturing sectors.

Dr Safari said he was optimistic that Morogoro can complement other industrialised regions, such as Dar es Salaam and the Coast Region, by producing agro-based goods like clothing.

He also echoed President Samia’s call for research among universities and institutions, stressing that relevant, locally-focused research was crucial for effective planning.

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“There is no way we can rely solely on foreign research to guide us. We need research that addresses our socio-economic context,” Dr Safari said.

Economist and investment banker Dr Hildebrand Shayo highlighted that President Samia’s push to revitalise Morogoro as an industrial hub will diversify employment opportunities in the country.

He noted that such a development will have multiple positive effects on the economy, including job creation and skill development.

Dr Shayo drew comparisons with international case studies, noting that Taiwan and India were pioneers in establishing special economic zones in Asia in 1965, with Taiwan employing nearly 60,000 people by 1970. Republic of Korea followed with the Masan Industrial Park in 1970 and Malaysia opened an industrial centre in Penang in 1971.