By Alvar Mwakyusa in Dodoma
MEMBERS of
Parliament have asked the government to increase funding to Tanzania
Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA) for rural road upgrading to ease
carriage of farm produce to
markets.
They equally argued
that it was high time the country embarked seriously on adding value to
farm produce, livestock and fishery products by setting up small and
medium scale processing industries, which will offer reliable markets
for producers.
The legislators
were contributing to the proposals on the national development plan and
government expenditures and revenue framework for 2020/2021, which
Finance and Planning Minister Dr Philip Mpango tabled in the National
Assembly on Tuesday.
The one-year
2020/2021 development plan is the culmination of the Second National-
Five-Year-Development Plan (NFYPII), which kicked off in 2016/2017.
It followed the
First Five-Year-Development-Plan (NFYPI) spanning 2010/2011 and
2015/2016. Through the plans, the gov-towards a middle-income economy
through the Tanzania Development Vision 2025.
Contributing to the
proposals, Mr Joram Hongoli (Lupembe- CCM) said many rural areas lack
proper infrastructure, impeding transportation of farm produce from
farmers.
"TARURA should be
availed with more funds to upgrade roads in these areas. Delays in
transporting the crop lead to compromised quality and eventually lower
prices for farmers," he stated.
The MP proposed
alternative sources of funding for the agency to enable it to
improveinfrastructure in rural areas, which are crucial for transporting
people, goods, crops and fertilizers, among others.
The sentiments were
shared by Special Seats MP Dr Christine Ishengoma (CCM) who expressed
concerns on poor state of roads in rural areas and yet the agency
received only 30 per cent of the approved budget.
Dr Ishengoma argued
that agriculture is the key economic sector that employs majority
Tanzanians and has great potential in reducing household poverty and
boosting industrial economy.
Agriculture employs
over 65 per cent of the country's popula tion and contributes 28.2 per
cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) but MPs were concerned that the
sector grows at a mere annual average of 3.3 per cent.
Tanga Urban MP Musa
Mbarouk (CUF) decried lack of reliable markets for farm produce,
subjecting farmers to abject poverty due to low prices.
The legislator
suggested that the proposed development plan for 2020/2021 clearly
indicates how the government plans to put in place enabling environment
for farmers to sell theirproduce at good prices.
"If these plans are
anything to rely on, then they should consider the poor farmers who
despite toiling on the farms, they receive little pay for their
produce," he charged.
Special Seats MP
Felista Bura (CCM) complained that Tanzania Agricultural Development
Bank (TADB), which is meant to provide loans to the sector, is mainly
based in Dar es Salaam with few branches in some parts of the country
and yet majority of farmers operate from upcountry regions.
"As a matter of
fact, many people in the villages are not even aware of loans issued by
the bank... and the few who are aware find it hard foot the costs to
access it in Dar es Salaam or other few areas where it has branches,"
she complained.
Mr Cosato Chumi
(Mafinga Urban-CCM) proposed establishment of small and medium scale
sugar processing plants to cater for both domestic and international
demand.
"The envisaged
Mkulazi sugar project is large-scale undertaking but it would take
little capital and less mobilisation to establish smaller plants. The
sugar industry is a multibillion undertaking from which Tanzania could
benefit," he advised.
During the
deliberations, Geita Rural MP Joseph Kasheku (CCM) proposed the meeting
with investors who acquired factories and failed to develop them.
"You should meet
these industrialists to find out why they failed. Some of them have been
complaining that they had been subjected to unfair competition from
cheap imports," he argued.
The outspoken MP
lashed out at some local government authorities, which have been making
proposals to be availed with funds to set up modern shopping markets and
bus stands and yet the common people are in need of crucial social
services.
"Our people in
rural areas want water, health services, schools and roads not modern
shopping malls and bus stands with storeyed structures," he pointed.
The lawmaker
advised the government to reject all proposals of that nature and
instead channel the funds to development projects in rural areas.
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