PRESIDENT Jakaya Kikwete has reiterated the
government's commitment to increase agricultural production which is the most
effective activities to rid the nation out of poverty.
President Kikwete said this during the launch
of the Third Convocation of China -Africa Development Partnership against
poverty in Dar es Salaam that engagement in agriculture would eradicate poverty
in Africa especially South of Sahara.
"Many African governments have not been
able to realize agricultural revolution by 100 per cent complicating efforts to
eradicate poverty due to financial constraints," Kikwete said.
Nearly half of the population in Africa,
according to him, still lives below the poverty line and pregnant women and
children continue to suffer from malnutrition. "Tanzania is determined to
fight poverty and has given priority to agriculture to help improve people's
lives.
Implementation of the plan includes mechanization
of agriculture through application of modernized technology, improved water
services and availability of reliable markets," President Kikwete said.
However, the president made it clear that the
success of the government plan to improve agricultural production would depend
on availability of funds and technical support, the basic issues that
development partners can give serious consideration.
For the last 20 years, the agricultural
sector has received financial support amounting to 18bn/- but the amount was
reduced to 3bn/- in the past three years and later increased to 6bn/- which is
not enough either.
"No doubt China has succeeded in
agriculture and established a strong economic base and can now become a tutor
to other nations intending to adopt modern agricultural technology to realize
objectives. This can be done and I am convinced that Tanzania can achieve its
objectives," he said.
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