DAR ES SALAAM, Jul 25 (NNN-IRIN) – Tanzanian authorities, yesterday launched the cultivation of 11,453 hectares of block farms, for the youth in the country’s central region of Dodoma.
Hussein Bashe, the Minister for Agriculture, said, the launch of the cultivation of 11,453 hectares of block farms is part of the implementation of a national agricultural programme for the youth.
Bashe said, the 11,453 hectares of block farms are located in Mlazo and Ndogoe villages, in Chamwino district, in the Dodoma region.
He said, cultivation of the farms will go in tandem with the drilling of dams for irrigating the farms, to be done by the National Irrigation Commission, in collaboration with the Dodoma Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DUWASA).
Bashe said, experts have already tested soil in the identified block farms for the youth to establish suitable crops in the farms.
Anthony Mavunde, the Deputy Minister for Agriculture, told parliament in June, the government has allocated 20,000 hectares of land that will be used to engage the youth in agriculture.
The pilot programme is intended to reduce unemployment facing most of the youth in the East African nation, said Mavunde.– NNN-IRIN
