1,500 farmers optimistic about new grape project

Mr Donald Mejetii explains how grapes are grown in Lamaiti,  Dodoma, recently. PHOTO|VALANTINE OFORO


What you need to know:

The project – which operates under the patronage of Lubala Vine Yard Company - has attracted over 1,500 farmers from three villages of Lubala, Bankoko and Lamaiti, according to the farm’s custodian, Mr Donald Mejetii.


Dodoma. Two local institutions have injected Sh2.6 billion in support of grape cultivation in Dodoma.

They are TIB Development Bank and the Unit Trust of Tanzania (UTT). 

The money has enabled farmers to open a 170-hectare modern grape farm project at Lamaiti Village, in Bahi District some 70 kilometres away from Dodoma municipality.

The project – which operates under the patronage of Lubala Vine Yard Company - has attracted over 1,500 farmers from three villages of Lubala, Bankoko and Lamaiti, according to the farm’s custodian, Mr Donald Mejetii.

The group plans to harvest about 7000 kilogrammes per hectare in 18 months from now.    

    Of the money, Sh121 million has been injected into the setting up of an irrigation facility while another Sh192 million has gone towards the building of a solar power system to support the irrigation dam.

“The farm is irrigated twice a week through a Sh121 million dam….the irrigation process is itself supported by a Sh192 million solar power system…..We are handling this project in a professional manner so that we start realising revenues and repay the loans soon,” Mr Mejetii said.

Each of the farmers manages and supervises one hectare. 

They have also formed a Savings and Credit Cooperatives (Saccos) which is specifically designed to cater for farmers’ financial needs.


Bottlenecks

To reach their intended goals, the farmers have to undergo several challenges including the complicated nature of the crop itself. “Agriculture is science. Grapes require systematic and professional treatment throughout all the stages,” said Dr Emmanuel Ulomi, the farm’s manager who also doubles as an extension officer. 

At the farm, grapes have been grown in special trenches. Each hectare comprises 20 trenches.

“Each trench consumes fertilizer that fills a five-tonne lorry while later on, we also apply termicide,” he said.

Having reached 18 centimetres long, the grapes will be trimmed. That would be done so as to allow them to grow further and produce heavy bunches of grapes. Pesticides are also applied to treat grapes of fungus diseases, especially powdery mildew and downy mildew.


Factory

The grapes grown at the farm are the Wine-Grapes- ‘Makutupora Reds’, targeting vast external market.  Plans are underway to construct a Sh729.5 million processing plant at the area.

TIB Development Bank will issue the loan.

“TIB has assured us about the money….Our target is to process concentrate juice and sell it in readiness for the manufacturing of different products,” Mr Mejetii who doubles as councillor for Malaiti Ward, said.

The company has also spoken to various wine processors within Tanzania and in South Africa and has been assured of a ready market for its products.