The Vice President delivered an inspirational closing speech with regard to commemoration of the
Edward Moringe Sokoine, agricultural sector and development in Tanzania. One of the factual
arguments appeared in his speech was that, in 2019, the agricultural sector contributed 26.9% to the
Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and grew by 4.4% compared 4.9% in 2020. The sector also
contributed 64.9% of employment and 65% of industrial raw materials. He noted that:
…“On Monday 24th May 2021, the Minister for Agriculture Prof. Adolf Mkenda said his docket has for
the coming financial year 2021/2022 plans to undertake comprehensive research on agricultural seedlings and
intensifying irrigation farming. In this regard, the Ministry has increased the budget for the Tanzania
Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) from 7.35bn/- in 2020/2021 to about 11.63bn/- in the next
financial year 2021/2022, and hoping the same has been done for SUA for a wider impact.”…
Furthermore, the Vice President added:
…“among his priorities, the late Edward Moringe Sokoine put emphasis on food security, investment in
agriculture and animal husbandry, and research and development as a basis for decisions to formulate or
revitalize policies and improve the lives of rural people… this commemoration provides an opportunity for
agricultural experts, farmers, policy makers, politicians and stakeholders from various groups to reflect on the
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ideas and leadership of the late Edward Moringe Sokoine especially the direction of agricultural development
in the country… in my opinion, one of the main objectives of this reflection should be to develop strategies and
devise new approaches to achieving the vision of the late Edward Moringe Sokoine.”
The Vice President added that despite the late Sokoine’s efforts in the agricultural sector, agricultural
productivity is still unsatisfactory. In another development, the Vice President commended SUA for
having this year’s theme which reflected the plans and strategies of the sixth phase government that
aimed at promoting productivity in agriculture as the basis for industrial development as outlined in
the Third National Five Years Development Plan (FYDP).
For the livestock sector, Dr. Mpango described that:
“…The annual growth rate of the sector is generally low, at approximately 2.2%. This rate reflects an increase
in livestock population rather than productivity gains. The sector is constrained by a number of factors such as
poor nutrition, low reproductive rates, high mortality rates and high disease prevalence…”
The directives from the Guest of Honor revolved around crop production, livestock and fisheries as
listed hereunder:
(i) The Vice President prohibited all seed companies from importing seeds from abroad and
directed the companies to produce seeds. He directed the Ministry of Agriculture to make a
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close follow up on the implementation of this important directives. Dr. Mpango further
directed Tanzania Prisons and the Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa (JKT) to dwell in production of quality
seeds. Furthermore, the Vice President directed the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration
with SUA to supervise R&D, evaluation and monitoring for good quality seeds according to
our environmental context.
(ii) The Vice President posed an evaluative question to SUA by saying:
… “To what extent SUA has responded to achieve the set of objectives that were introduced in 1984 by
Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere during inception of the University.” …
(iii) The Vice President reassured the government’s determination to increase agricultural
productivity in a way that would be honoring the ideas and vision of the late Sokoine. He thus
directed the Ministries of Agriculture; Livestock and Fisheries to oversee implementation of
the government’s strategies for the positive growth of these sectors. The two ministries and
SUA, according to Dr. Mpango, should take measures on R&D, and innovations to support
farmers and livestock keepers with modern equipment and technologies for them to increase
earnings and make profits.
(iv) The Vice President was concerned with low crop harvests. “There has been insufficient harvests in
crops like cotton, cashew nuts, tea and sisal as well as livestock products such as leather. Thus, the services from
agriculture extension and veterinary officers should be extended to small scale farmers and pastoralists in all
villages, in a way that would be honoring the ideas and vision of the late Sokoine”
(v) The Vice President urged for the concerted efforts for SUA in research for development and
innovation that aim at improving animal genetics; pasture production and rangeland
management; feeds and feeding; husbandry practices; disease management and public health;
socio-cultural and economic aspects and livestock value addition being vital to stimulate the
growth and contribution of the sector to the national economy. Dr. Mpango said that
…“Research is necessary in order to inform and guide stakeholders in the sector to utilize scarce resources
efficiently to achieve the desired transformation of the socio-economic status of Tanzanians. SUA should strive
to ensure that the technologies developed by researchers, academicians and students are disseminated to the
farmers to improve agricultural productivity.” …
(vi) The Vice President also directed SUA to write a book on the History and contribution of the
late Edward Moringe Sokoine to Tanzania’s agriculture and development in general, while
directing the Minister for Education, Science and Technology to coordinate the building of
the Sokoine statue and establishment of the Sokoine Achieve at Wami Dakawa (Sokoine
Memorial) School.
(vii) The Vice President directed all agricultural stakeholders to collaborate with the Government
to achieve the late Edward Moringe Sokoine’s vision in boosting production, productivity and
marketing for agricultural produce.
(viii) The Vice President further instructed the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology
(MoEST) to increase research budget from Fiscal 2021/22 to SUA in order to spearhead vision
of the late Edward Moringe Sokoine on agriculture and livestock development.