Originally known as “Chato Tree Farm,” the plantation, ranks second-largest in Tanzania was renamed “Silayo Tree Farm” by former President Dr. John Pombe Magufuli in honor of TFS Commissioner Prof. Dos Santos Silayo for his contributions.
GEITA. THE Tanzania Forest Services (TFS), through its large-scale Silayo Forest afforestation project in the Geita region, has invested a total of 673.6m/- in community empowerment initiatives within Chato district since the project’s inception in 2018.
This investment is a core component of the state-owned plantation’s robust Community Social Responsibility (CSR) program, designed to improve access to essential social services for local residents.
In an exclusive interview to the publication, Silayo Forest Plantation Conservation Officer (SCO) Juma Mwita Mseti stated that these community projects align with and support President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s nationwide efforts to enhance the delivery of social services.
“Our community empowerment initiatives have so far focused on improving health, education, water access, environmental conservation, and job creation for communities surrounding the forest,” he said.
Detailing the completed projects, Mseti explained that 2,752,00- were allocated to distribute over 1,376,000 tree seedlings to citizens free of charge. This initiative aims to actively involve communities in environmental conservation efforts.
Furthermore, he noted that a significant sum of 396,202,040/- was invested in upgrading key educational infrastructure for nearby communities.
“This support benefited several institutions, including Minkoto and Bwaga secondary schools, as well as Butengo and Nyamibanga primary schools,” he said.
In addition, he informed that they have also constructed a modern dispensary and a doctor’s house in Butengo village to improve healthcare delivery.
“The forest management also funded the roofing of a dispensary structure in Nyampalahala village to bolster health sector performance,” he added.
A major highlight of the CSR program is the installation of a comprehensive water project in Butengo village, Butengorumasa ward. Prior to this project, residents, particularly women, had to travel long distances to fetch water, SCO Mseti revealed.
To support the agricultural sector, the Silayo plantation has granted approximately 5,000 residents from neighboring villages free access to grow crops within designated areas of the plantation.
The development has helped many households achieve food security, with surplus harvests being sold for income.
“The Silayo tree estate is also a vital source of employment for nearby Tanzanians. For instance, over the past eight consecutive years, the project has created about 9,000 direct jobs,” Mseti explained.
Located in Katoro town, roughly 65 km from Chato district headquarters, the 65,248.54- hectare Silayo plantation is strategically positioned to boost the timber industry in the Lake Zone and across Tanzania.
Originally known as “Chato Tree Farm,” the plantation, ranks second-largest in Tanzania was renamed “Silayo Tree Farm” by former President Dr. John Pombe Magufuli in honor of TFS Commissioner Prof. Dos Santos Silayo for his contributions.
Currently, about 5,439 hectares, or 8.3 percent of the total area of Silayo Forest, is covered with diverse tree species.
These include ‘Pinus spp, Afzelia quanzensis, Gmelina arborea, Khaya anthotheca, and Eucalyptus, among others.
Managed by TFS, the Silayo plantation is a key component of the Lake Zone’s forest resources. It contributes significantly to national tree cover and supports local economies through the provision of seedlings and employment opportunities.
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