DODOMA regions, the country’s grape growing hub, has continued to witness the increase entrances of wine processing factories, the development which surfaces sighs of hope among grape farmers.
In recent years, the grape farmers experienced a negative effect of absence of assured market for their produce, propelling most of the grape to rot in the vineyards, exacerbating financial losses.
To that end, the government has been striving to set friendly condition and policy to help attract more local and international stakeholders to chip into the vital socio-economic industry of the region.
Over the weekend, the country’s grape and wine enthusiastic witnessed official launch of the new wine factory in the region, adding up a number of wins brewing in the region.
Dubbed ‘Mkombozi Winery’ headquartered in Mvumi Ward, on the outskirt of Dodoma Capital City, the expanded facility has the capacity of processing 360 tons of grapes annually.
Speaking during the tailor-made event for the official inception of the state-of-the-art facility, the factory’s Executive Director, Mwanga Chibago expressed that the facility commenced at a low profile in 2022 with processing capacity of 223 tons of grapes.
“When started, we survived the series of discouraging event of passing through ‘thunder and rains’ but today I am standing here very proud as the plant has succeeded to see the light of the day,” he expressed.
He informed that the establishment which produces the best wine brand, christened ‘Mvumi Wine’ which has good aroma and test, is working with a total of 200 grape farmers in the area located some 42km from the Dodoma Capitals.
“Among others, the core vision behind establishment of this factory was to expand market to the grapes farmers,” he said.
Chibago unveiled that the plant has about 555,000 litres grapes juice storage capacity.
During the first year of the factory’s operation in 2022, we managed to process a total of 233 tons of grapes, equivalent to 223,000kg of grapes, whereby during last year, the factory processed a total 362tons, around 362,000kg”
Dwelling over the achievements fetched since the factory ventured into business, the director said they have managed to reach out and work with at least 200 farmers, the development which has seen the farmers benefiting in terms of various areas, including chance to access capital loans from reputable financial institutions, especially NMB Plc.
And he added, the factory which has already been blessed by the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS), Business Registration and Licensing Agency (BRELA) as well as Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) has so far created a total of 20 direct contracts to the local youth.
Apart from such success, he said the factory was however in need of assistance from the ministry of agriculture and that of investment to heighten its working ability, as well as serving the farmers more professionally.
“Currently, we’re short of some needed modern machines, including the pressing machine, filter machine and vast tanks for professional storage of grapes bulk grape and wine experts who can help us to produce high-ranked products to help penetrate and compete highly in the international market,” he unveiled.
Together with that, he said spoke over the need for the government to strategize and come-up with more effective strategies to help expand grape market towards the farmers in the fast-growing ward.
“Mvumi ward has over 921 grape farmers with annually production tonnage at around 1,301 tons, our current capacity is to purchase only 362tons, therefore huge tons are left aside with no assured market,” he detailed.
However, he hailed President Samaia Suluhu Hassan efforts towards improving the economic sector, the efforts which involves a move to sensitize the financial institutions in the country to see the need of empowering the farmers.
“I would like to extend my sincerely appreciation to NMB Plc and the then Tanzania Investment Bank (TIB) for their support towards the factory,” he appreciated.
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