AfDB eyes new agric projects

Mbeya. A team of experts from the African Development Bank (AfDB) is in the country on a fact-finding mission on the possibility of financing agro-processing projects in Mbeya.

The delegation that visited Mbeya at the weekend comprises 15 people, including officials from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

Among the key areas visited are Songwe International Airport, an Irish potatoes nursery project dubbed ‘Stawisha’ and the designated industrial park in Inyala.

Mbeya Regional Commissioner Albert Chalamila said on Sunday October 21 there was hope the bank would release funds for agro-processing industries.

“This tour is a result of talks held recently between President John Magufuli and the boss of AfDB when they met in the country,” he said.

The RC said regional authorities, in collaboration with the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (Sagcot), had designated areas for industrial parks, and identified maize, paddy, sunflower, potatoes, cocoa, avocado, coffee, milk and palm as the priority crops for the region’s development.

Ms Tulla Mloge, Sagcot manager for Mbarali, said her institution was committed to supporting smallholder farmers so that they could benefit more from farming activities.

“The visit by the AfDB team to the Mbarali Cluster is good news for local farmers. We have been working very closely with both government and farmers. Things are moving and our objectives will be met,” she said.

The bank participates in development across member states through its Private Sector Department (OPSD) .

It does so by means of lending, equity participation, guarantee and technical assistance related to the financing of private sector projects and programmes.

Small and medium-size enterprises are among the beneficiaries of the AfDB’s programmes in member states.

The OPSD plans, organises and carries out activities related to private sector project identification, preparation, appraisal, implementation and portfolio management.