Bashe Directs ASA To Expand Installation Of Irrigation Infrastructures At Msimba Seed Estate
By Senior Reporter, Sematv
AGRICULTURE Minister, Hussein Bashe has instructed the acting chief executive officer (CEO) of the Agricultural Seeds Agency (ASA), Mr Leo Mavika, to announce tender for the installation of modern irrigation infrastructure at Msimba seed estate of Morogoro Region.
Minister Bashe issued the timely directives during his visit of the over 5000 hectares seed farm in Kilosa district of Morogoro Region yesterday.
So far, at least 3,950 hactares at the major farm has already been installed with modern irrigation facilities.
He observed, it was prudent for the Agency to ensure the remaining 1,600 hactares are also covered with the irrigation infrastructure before next agricultural season in order to ensure the area produces enough seed varieties.
He said the government, through the parent ministry is working to ensure all seeds estates owned by the Agency are installed with modern irrigation facilities in order to allow seeds production through out the country.
“The vision by the government is to elevate production and productivity in the country’s seed sub- sector, to cater for domestic demand, but also for exportation,” he said.
Giving more instructions, Minister Bashe tasked Mavika to repair the three tractors at the farm in order to ensure the farm produce enough tonnages of seeds in the fourth coming agricultural season.
He added, maintenance of the dilapidated tractors do not need a lot of money, and thus the Agency must repair the facilities on time to avoid renting or moving from other farms.
During the visit, the Minister Bashe got opportunity to inspect the modern agricultural seed processing plant at the farm, where he expressed to have been satisfied with the efficiency of the plant.
He asked the employees of the farm to take care of the modern infrastructure, saying it is one of the largest farms of the government for the production of quality seeds.
On his part, the acting chief executive officer (CEO) of the Agricultural Seeds Agency (ASA), Mr Mavika expressed to have received the instructions, whereby he promised to implement the directives accordingly.
He said, the farm is tailor – made for the production of different seed varieties, including sunflower, sorghum, sesame and palm oil.
Agricultural Seed Agency (ASA) was established under the Executive Agencies Act No 30 of 1997. The Agency was launched in June 2006 as a semi-autonomous body under the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives.
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