The agreement was signed by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Mathew Mtigumwe and Dutch Ambassador to Tanzania Jeroen Verheul.
The signing was witnessed by Deputy Minister in the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Governments) Josephat Kandege, Sagcot officials, regional commissioners and district commissioners.
Mr Kandege thanked the Dutch government for bringing into Tanzania four companies experienced in potato production that would promote potato production and put Tanzania on the world potato map. He appealed to the Dutch government to do a similar thing to other crops.
Mr Verheul said Sagcot played a big role in making the agreement possible, adding that the aim was to increase potato production output and increase growers’ income.
He said a potato centre of excellence and a demonstration farm would be constructed in Uyole, Mbeya City.
Sagcot Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Kirenga explained that four companies would invest in the production of the crop and address challenges facing Irish potato production.
“The potato seed challenge has been overcome. We used to have three varieties. Now we have 11 varieties. We have tools to increase potato production and benefit from it. These are obvious indicators that production and productivity will go up,” Mr Kirenga noted.
He said growers and workers would be taught how to use farm implements.
Sagcot is a public-private partnership funded by the government and other partners, including UKaid, USAID, Norway and the World Bank.
Daily News
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