Tuesday 22 March, 2011

kilimokwanza@guardian.co.tz

SUPPORTING THE PROMOTERS OF THE GREEN REVOLUTION

WATER WEEKAND

KILIMO KWANZA

By Makuna Chirimi

Members ofParliament (MP’s)have faulted the gov-ernment on its im-plementation of theKilimo Kwanza

(agriculture first) green revolution.Presenting a TSH 12trillion outline

budget before parliament late lastweek, the Minister for Finance andEconomic Affairs, Hon Mustafa Mkuloannounced that agriculture, now exem-plified by KilimoKwanza, is a key focusarea - or rather, one of 12 areas of focus.

He mentioned the 12 developmentpriorities as Education, Agriculture,Livestock and Fishing, Energy,Infrastructure for transport, Industrialdevelopment, Health and Water.Others are Lands, Housing andHuman Settlements, HumanResources Development, Science andTechnology, development of FinancialServices. Cross cutting issues like envi-ronmental preservation, good gover-nance, gender development and HIV-AIDS are also covered.

In their contributions, legislatorscriticized the government for attempt-ing to cover broad issues instead of con-centrating on key, achievable goals.

They also advised the government tocome up with at least five manageablepriorities, instead of rushing to imple-ment many programmes with inade-quate financial resources.

The MP’s also took particular issuewith the current implementation ofKilimo Kwanza, with Ilala MP, HonMussa Azzan Zungu warning that selfinterests were threatening to turnKilimo Kwanza into an unachievablepipe dream.

Dr Hamis Kigwangwala (Nzega-CCM) advised the government to im-prove the industrial and agriculturalsectors, questioning the fate of some3,000 graduate agricultural extensionofficers that are still unemployed.

Other legislators commented thatcurrent indications are that KilimoKwanza has failed. They expressedconcern on the current pressure forfarmers to purchase power tillers,terming the mechanization drive as aproject filled with personal interests.They challenged the government toevaluate the effectiveness of the strate-gy, saying that promoting the applica-tion and supply of power tillers alonewas questionable.

Introduced as a cost effective alter-native to tractors in effort s to mecha-nize agriculture, power tillers have

been received with mixed feelingsacross the board. At the moment thecountry has an estimated 8,000 work-ing tractors and yet it needs at least20,000 working tractors to achieve thegoals of agricultural self sufficiencystated under Kilimo Kwanza. Howevergovernment plans to import 2,000 trac-tors annually to mull the shortfall havealso been scuttled by the inaccessibilityof loans to farmers for purchase of themachinery.

Since its launch in August 2009,government commitment to KilimoKwanza has remained open to critiqueand interpretation. Some pundits havelamented on the slow pace of imple-mentation of the strategy, noting thatas far back as 2003 the governmentcommitted to its increase budget allo-cation to agriculture to 10% by 2008.However the current allocation re-mains at 7%. Others argue that thegovernment has yet to show real finan-cial commitment to Kilimo Kwanza.They say that the cash being offered asagricultural loans is simply a portion ofwhat was returned by the alleged “loot-ers” of the infamous External PaymentArrears (EPA) account.

Some point out that in preparingthe current 2010/2011 budget, the gov-ernment reneged on an earlier promise

made to farmers that it would reducefarm gate produce cess from 5% to 3%.In the reversal the government an-nounced that the produce cess would becharged at between 3% and 5% of farmgate price to allow the LocalGovernment Authorities impose ratesbased on the available resources.Farmers have often complained thatthe levy reduces eats into their earn-ings. In the 2011/2012 budget, the gov-ernment aims to raise TSH 200.2 bil-lion from Local Government Authoritysources.

An evaluation of the current2010/2011 budget however shows thatmost of the changes that were made tothe VAT Act were consistent with thegovernment’s announced intention ofimproving agriculture. These changesranged from exemptions to zero-ratingand special reliefs. Whether thesechanges resulted in the positivechanges that were envisioned by thegovernment is a differentmatter that isstill up for discussion.

Sunflower farmers for exampletoasted the zero-rating of the supply oflocally produced edible oil, producedfrom local oil seeds. The promotion oflivestock farming with proposed tax ex-emptions on animal feed / seed cake, aby-product of oil seeds like sunflower

was also a positive highlight. Havesunflower farmers reaped full benefits?

The milk industry has also been inthe spotlight with the recent govern-ment ban on raw milk exports, an un-expected halt that was received mixedreactions across the milk sector. Milkfarmers were in the news complainingthat the ban had cut a lucrative sourceof income. Local milk processors cau-tiously lauded the move but urged thegovernment to support local invest-ment in the industry. The governmenthas already exempted VAT on machin-ery and equipment used in the collec-tion, transportation and processing ofmilk products. This was an extension ofexemptions to promote investment inthe dairy subsector and improve farm-ers’ income. Milk and juice producerswere supposed to gain from exemptionson the supply of packaging materialsfor milk products and fruit juices. Havethese gains been achieved? Why are lo-cal processors still complaining?

The 2010/11 budget also offeredspecial relief status on the supply ofveterinary equipment to registered vet-erinary practitioners and on artificialinsemination breeding services. This, itwas hoped, would boost the develop-

EDITORIALThe Guardian KILIMO KWANZA Tuesday 22 March, 2011

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The Guardian KILIMO KWANZACOVER STORY

Tuesday 22 March, 2011

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THREEreports, all with implications on agri-cultural performance in Tanzania, were un-veiled during the just-ended Water Week.Finance minister Mustapha Mkulo present-ed to parliamentarians a 12 trillion/- outlinebudget featuring 12 priority areas of the

economy, agriculture included.According to the outline budget, 6.396 trillion/- in do-

mestic revenue will be collected in financial year2011/2012, with external and domestic budget loans andgrants providing 710.7 billion/- and foreign loans andgrants under basket and project funding giving 1.979 tril-lion/-.

Donors under the General Budget Support (GBS)umbrella will provide a total of 514.3 billion/-, while theremaining 2.169 trillion/- will be sourced through whatthe minister referred to as “other means”.

The government plans to spend 4.594 trillion/- on de-velopment programmes, while the remaining 7.376 tril-lion going into the financing of recurrent activities.

A study on taxation value chains sponsored by theAgriculture Council of Tanzania meanwhile claims thata reduction in produce cess from 5 per cent to 3 per centof farm gate prices is unlikely result in positive impact onthe lives of farmers.

The government has waxed hot and cold overwhether to scale down or eliminate the cess. The levy isa key component of revenue earnings for local councils inthe country’s agriculturally dependent areas, with rev-enue collections from local councils forming a portion ofthe government budget.

Commenting on the report, agriculture stakeholdersacknowledged that the high charges and haphazard ad-ministration of the levy is a significant disincentive toagriculture development.

There is also the Preliminary National SampleCensus of Agriculture and Livestock report, as unveiledby Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives ministerProf Jumannne Maghembe.

The sample report talks of significant progress in thesector. It indicates an increase in the use of improvedseeds and synthetic fertilisers but a decrease in the useof agro-chemicals. It also shows an increase in crop pro-duction in the 2007/08 period and an increase in the live-

stock head-count.National Bureau of Statistics Director General Dr

Albina Chuwa is on record as saying lessons learnt fromthe recent world financial crisis and economic meltdownhad left nations across the globe with no option but to de-pend on high frequency economic data.

And herein lies the crux of our problem. Some plan-ners have gone to the extent of saying some people use re-search much like a drunkard uses a lamp-post: for sup-port and not for illumination. Research should howeverbe used to provide insights into existing realities, thushelping to build firm foundations for future plans.

With the plethora of reports, surveys, expert opinionand research data released, unveiled, announced or pre-sented every day of every given week, one wonders howmuch effort is going into making sense of all the numbersand figures being bandied about by “experts”?

More importantly, is there anyone in a position of in-fluence or any organisation that is making some sense ofthe emerging landscapes formed by the complementary,contradicting, convergent or divergent research, informa-tion, data and “expert” commentary?

Research is much like the fuel required to createworkable ideas and, as such, it should be seen as ameansto the end and not an end in itself.

Equally important is the need to now find and createresearch databases. This will assist our decision makersto strike a common ground, a point where the differentspectrums of data and opinion form a single stream oflight that will guide future decision making and hopeful-ly spur gainful socio-political and economic change in thecountry.

Wallace MauggoEditor

It is high time we putresearch to better use

i n s i d e

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Dawasa - Respondingto the Urban WaterChallenges

Artwork & Design: KN Mayunga To have your organisation promoted in Kilimo Kwanza, Call: 0787 571308, 0655 571308 0754 571308

TBL – Prefinancingfarmers for the 2011barley crop

Kilimo Kwanza:Govt criticised

Kilimo Kwanza: Govt criticised

Continues page 8

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POLICYThe Guardian KILIMO KWANZA Tuesday 22 March, 2011

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The Guardian KILIMO KWANZAPOLICY

Tuesday 22 March, 2011

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By Miki Tasseni

PROPOSALS for the con-struction of a dual car-riage railway, of a stan-dard gauge which is near-ly twice the traditionalrailway gauge inherited

from the German and British railways,is a potential new axis for agriculture.

While the focus of the railway planis regional integration and easing im-port-export activity for neighbouringcountries of Rwanda and Burundi, it isunquestioned that Tanzania’s stake isalso quite high in that proposal. Foronce, if implemented, it would help re-solve the railway system chaos here.

The significance of railways hasusually not been appreciated enoughfor agriculture but rather for indus-tries, since there is greater bulk in in-dustrial production than in farming.

However railways make a keen differ-ence as quite often it passes in hinter-land areas with no road connectionsthat are close enough or with reliablefrequency of vehicles, and road trans-port is habitually expensive. Only railtransport affords rural dwellers a lesscostly way of moving around and mov-ing bulky goods, and for government,lessening costs all over.

For instance it is unthinkable thatcommercial agriculture in crops likesisal at the time of independence wouldhave reached great heights without theTanga railway line.

The thrust right now is for the cen-tral line development corridor, but if aprivate sector method was taken up, interms of actual privatization and plac-ing stocks of railway companies on thestock exchange, no reason exists for notfinancing a new railway by thatmethod. It could also cross the

Serengeti above the ground or under-ground, more easily.

Agriculture needs to be taken upwith alleviating poverty, in which casethere is need for ways of moving goodsdestined for rural areas by less costlymeans of transportation, which un-avoidably means railways. It is oftensaid that it is cheaper to deliver a ton offlour from New York to Arusha thanfrom Mbeya to Arusha, and the key is-sue is the cost of transportation, sincebulk shipping with bulk railway trans-port lessens costs. When only roadtransport is available, nomargin of cut-ting on prices to sell more is available.

When industries can move materi-als in bulk from factories on the edgesof the country to sell in rural areas andthe latter canmove goods and people atwill to urban areas and back, fightingpoverty starts becoming feasible. In aglobal environment where prices rise

selectively and fall for many other com-modities, a component of technologyuse in the farming system withoutcheapened transportation makes fight-ing poverty difficult. Lack of a good rail-way system is a key input to high costof living.

At the time that the idea was firstmooted to build a railway from Dar esSalaam to the Zambian town of KapiriMposhi, the more salutary reflectionsconcerned the potential for the south-ern highlands region to become an in-dustrial complex.

It was thought that the iron andcoal complex in Liganga and Kiwira ar-eas in particular offered ground for in-ward looking industry, and agriculturewas seen in terms of the rise of heavyindustry and ‘backward linkages’ totake raw materials or forward linkagesto supply equipment. The problemwas-n’t agriculture per se but the dynamic

factor was seen to be industry.That situation obviously did not

materialize, part of the problem beingthe non-existence of an industrial ori-entation per se, and with socialism invogue at that time, no sources of creditor investment existed for the purpose.It was a regional cooperation project tooffset diktat of political powers in con-trol of Beira and Durban ports forZambian imports – in which case it wasmore or less sufficient that copper wasbeing transported to the port of Dar esSalaam. Issues like easing transport forpeasants were clearly secondary.

A similar situation can be said to beexisting, not in the sense of any suchpolitical powers that the new railwayplan is being conceived to divert goodsfrom their control, but rather in consti-tuting the railway idea within the re-gional transportation framework.

The income or cost of living divi-dend might come up in a feasibilitystudy and even in presidential re-marks, but it is hard to see it as a guid-ing sort of orientation, for the simplereason that the idea is a public sectorventure. Private capital is sought for fi-nancing, not for business.

While the pivotal countries at thestart of improving the railway are thetwo small countries, the fact that CongoDRC also wishes to come on boardmakes a keen difference, as it makesthe railway project become even moreviable than at first. The problem reallyis not likely to be with the three neigh-bouring countries but rather withTanzania. Right from the start thetone taken by President JakayaKikwete was clear, that the four coun-tries can only agree on the project if itis private-sector driven.

By anchoring the railway construc-tion plan firmly in the private sector, itmight be possible for the government,or rather the president, to rein in someof the more implacable prerogatives ofthe parastatal and regulatory system.Already there are measures being un-dertaken in that direction though onlyat budding stages.

When the legislature starts becom-ing a problem-solving caucus ratherthan a ‘blame chamber’, perhaps theright sort of legislation could be pre-pared to facilitate the new railwayplan.

When the business part of a rail-ways infrastructure is examined, it isquickly noticed that it works best whenit is placed in the private sector withmajor financing agencies raising capi-tal from the right sources, not loans.This isn’t the current orientation of pol-icy, with Minister for Finance MustafaMkulo still running errands assigningfrom credit rating agencies to give arating for Tanzania, and it was heardthat a ‘B’ grade was obtained. At thesame time the state record for private-public partnership contracts is rated ‘E’at best.

That is why both the railways idea,how it should be taken up and how farit will really be a key input to trans-forming rural economic activity andpoverty alleviation is work that stillhas to be done.

The current approach is still mer-cantile – tied to transporting goodsfrom Burundi and Rwanda via the portof Dar es Salaam, and some sort of pri-vate sector pursuit of capital being sug-gested in some unclearmanner.Were itpart of far reaching program of liberal-ization, denationalization of infrastruc-ture and support for Kilimo Kwanza itthen it starts to make business sense.

Dual carriage railway an infrastructureboost for Kilimo Kwanza

THE Energy and Water Utilities RegulatoryAuthority (EWURA) is in final preparations ofsetting regulations for private water suppliers inthe country in order to ensure consumers get safeand clean water. Service providers to be includedin the latest regulatory move by EWURA are op-erators of water tankers and commercial privateboreholes, who until recently have been enjoyingunregulated trade regime. Implementation of thenew regulations will start with Dar es Salaam asa pilot area, after which it will be replicated intoother areas across the country.

The new bid is in line with this year’s MajiWeek theme, which is "Water for Cities:Responding to Urban Challenges with activitiesaiming to communicate messages on Growing ur-ban water and sanitation demand, increased pol-lution from municipal and industrial discharges,Climate change and its foreseen risks and chal-lengers, Over-exploitation of available water re-sources and better targeting of urban poor."

The Director of Water and Sewerage Services,Eng. Mutaekulwa Mutegeki said recently that al-ready a draft of guidelines for boreholes and wa-ter tankers in Dar es Salaam has been preparedby EWURA in consultation with Dar es SalaamWater Services Company (DAWASCO), Dar esSalaam Water and Sewerage Authority(DAWASA) and the Ministry of Water andIrrigation. “The Draft Guidelines will soon be dis-cussed by stakeholders after which rules will beprepared.Wewill start withDar es Salaam regionas a pilot area, and replicate it in other urban ar-eas,” he said.

According to the Director, the draft guidelineswill govern the supply of clean and safe water by

water tanker operators and commercial privateborehole operators in such areas where there is alimited or no supply of clean and safe water by li-censed water suppliers like DAWASCO.

The guidelines, among other things, describethe procedures for the registration and deregis-tration of water tanker operators, as well as com-mercial private borehole operators, and obliga-tions of both operators, DAWASCO and EWURA.

“Furthermore, the guidelines describe the ob-ligations of water tanker operators, commercialboreholes operators, DAWASCO and theAuthority,” emphasized Eng. Mutegeki.

According to the guidelines, the operators willbe required to register themselves with DAWAS-CO, and could be de-registered as well if they vio-late the rules. They will also be required to ob-serve cap price that will be set by EWURA as wellas technical requirements of boreholes and watertankers. Tanker operators would be required to“disinfect water tanker every six months or anytime contamination of a water tanker has oc-curred and shall forthwith after such disinfection,obtain a disinfection certificate from DAWASCO”the guidelines reads in part.

It also adds that operators would also be re-quired to keep at a conspicuous place a certifiedcopy of a valid disinfection certificate issued byDAWASCO. Likewise, on an annual basis, bore-hole operators would also be required to carry outand report water quality tests regarding PH, tur-bidity, faecal coliforms, fluoride, iron, manganeseand salinity to DAWASCO. They will also beasked to keep records of the quality and quantityof water pumped from the Borehole on monthlybasis.

EWURA to monitor boreholes, tankers

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By Staff Reporter

DAWASA - Dar es Salaam Waterand Sewerage Authority, aims tobe an efficient organization thatdelivers high quality water andsewerage services, through goodmanagement, integrity and com-

mitment to customers.The authority fulfils its obligations of provid-

ing safe, reliable and affordable water and sewer-age services with transparency, efficiency andsustainability. DAWASA is the owner and capitalinvestor of the water infrastruc-ture utilized by commercial oper-ators like the Dar es SalaamWater and Sewerage Company(DAWASCO).

Tanzania’s landmass is ap-proximated at 945,000 squarekilometers. Of this Dar esSalaam covers 1340 sq km. Anestimated three million peoplelive within the city limits.DAWASA is responding to thechallenge of providing clean, safeand reliable water to the city.

Commitment to customerservice has seen DAWASA im-plementing the four-phased, four-year,Community Water Supply and SanitationProgram (CWSSP). Municipal implementation ofthe projects was done in partnership with non-government organizations; Water Aid in TemekeDistrict, CARE International in KinondoniDistrict and Plan International in Ilala.

The three main phases of the project addressthe challenges of drought and water shortage, thesecond addresses the challenge of supplying wa-ter to poor communities and the third targetscommunities that have never gotten access to

clean and safe water.For sustainability, says Neli Msuya (pic-

tured), The Community Liaison Manager ofDAWASA, the project is hinged on firm commu-nity involvement from project inception to com-missioning. The project aims to bring water andsanitation services closer to everyone, especiallythose in the lower income bracket. These are themost susceptible to water-borne disease epi-demics.

The huge reduction in cholera epidemics inprevious hotspots like Mbagala, Temeke, Kigogo,Manzese, Kawe and Mwananyamala residential

areas is evidence of the evergrowing success in provision ofclean, safe and reliable water tothe most vulnerable communi-ties.

DAWASA extends its grati-tude to all individuals, groups,organizations and private com-panies that have responded tothe challenge of providing cleanand safe water to all.

There is water shortage, butthat is a challenge facing citiesacross the globe. In responding tothis challenge, DAWASA hasamong other things, (drilled)

over 200 across the city, and even often in farflung areas like Nyang’andu.

One well is enough to support up-to 5000 peo-ple, but urban population growth sometimes re-sults in over 20,000 people sharing the water.

“We aim to have enough water across Dar esSalaam by (2013). It is a challenge, but one thatwe strive to achieve,” the Authority’s CommunityEngineer, Lydia Ndibalema says.

Budget constraints aside, the challengingsearch for newwater sources and expansion of ex-isting infrastructure also continues. The new

DAWASA - Responding to theUrban Water Challenges

MAJI WEEKThe Guardian KILIMO KWANZA Tuesday 22 March, 2011

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The Guardian KILIMO KWANZAMAJI WEEK

Tuesday 22 March, 2011

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By Staff Reporter

Water is an ever growing con-cern for the people of Tanzaniaand across the developingworld. Shortage of surface wa-ter has necessitated the ex-ploitation of underground wa-

ter sources by drilling of boreholes.Having acknowledged the escalating problem

of water quality and availability, the governmentunder the Civil Service Reform Program trans-formed into executive agencies selected organiza-tions to carry out essential public functions.

One such agency that resulted of these gov-ernment reforms is the Drilling and DamsConstruction Agency (DDCA). DDCAwas createdunder the auspices of the then Ministry of Waterand Livestock Development, which has now beenrenamed the Ministry for Water Developmentand Irrigation.

The firm is Tanzania’s sole agency that dealswith the development of water resources includ-ing drilling of water wells and construction ofearth-full dams to sustainably allocate availablewater resources for different uses in the country.

DDCA was established in 1997 under theExecutive Agencies Act. No. 30 of 1997, and waslaunched on the 26th of March 1999, (though ithad been in operation since 1997). The role of thefirm is to develop sustainable and safe watersources through efficient means and at a cost ef-fective price, hence contributing to economicgrowth of the country.

The objectives are in line with the nationalobjective of poverty alleviation and improving thehealth of the people through provision of clean,safe and adequate water supply to rural and ur-ban populations. DDCA is among the firstExecutive Agencies established with a view to en-sure that water is supplied throughout the coun-try through boreholes especially in remote areaswhere the supply is scarce.

Specific objectives of the organization are tolocate and develop safe and sustainable watersources through drilling of deep wells and con-struction of dams to increase water availabilityfor different socio-economic uses. DDCA also aimsto provide reliable, timely quality and affordableservices to rural, urban and peri-urban popula-tions.

Boreholes form a majority of the estimatedthousands of water projects that have been initi-ated in rural Tanzania. DDCA has successfullycarried out a number of water projects in thecountry, among these being actual boreholesdrilling, feasibility studies, topographical surveys,design and construction of dams andwater supplysystems. A typical example of a modern rigtrucks owned by Drilling and Dam ConstructionAgency based in Dar es Salaam. The trucks areused for drilling boreholes.

The Agency has highly qualified and experi-enced personnel including, Geologists, Hydro-ge-ologists, Drilling engineers, land surveyors, andcivil engineers in fields related to water resourcesdevelopment and management. For efficiency theDDCA’s experts undertake ground waterprospecting using modern state-of-the-art tech-nology, drilling operations, measuring yield of wa-ter wells and laboratory analysis for water quali-ty, and soil sampling to monitor underground wa-ter formations (lithology).

Other services offered are the installation anduser training of pumping systems like hand,diesel, solar or electric driven submersible pumpsand surface pumps. DDCA also provides trainingof caretakers onmanagement andmaintenance ofcommunity water wells and dams.

DDCA now drills over 450 boreholes annual-ly, compared to an average of 50 to 100 whichwere drilled by the government annually prior toformation of the agency. Countrywide statisticsshow that over 5,450 boreholes have been suc-cessfully drilled by the firm in the last twelveyears of its existence. For the 2008/09 financialyear, the firm drilled a total of 443 boreholes, outof these 380 boreholes were productive whileabout 63 failed to strike water.

DDCA also partners with international de-velopment organizations to establish water proj-ects in rural Tanzania.

Statistics from the Ministry of Water andIrrigation Water indicate that 53 percent of ruralareas and 73 percent of urban populations haveaccess to clean water. Demand for water increas-es in tandem with increased human population,industries and irrigation schemes.

The negative impacts of low water supply pri-marily affect the urban and rural poor who payhigh prices to water vendors for small quantitiesof, sometimes, poor quality water. In rural areas,low water supply coverage manifests itself in lowagricultural production and poor quality of life.

DDCA provides services to all people in urbanareas without marginalizing the poor, includingthose who are unable to pay for constructionwork. Records show that about 90 percent of deepwells drilled by DDCA are located in rural areas.In urban areas, ground water sources are rapidlydeveloped for individuals and institutions to meetthe increasing demand for water supply.

The agency has proved equal to the task ofconstructing new and rehabilitating existing wa-ter sources at affordable costs in MainlandTanzania and Zanzibar. The firm has acquiredfrom the government capital assets, which in-cludes operational drilling rigs and earth movingequipment.

DDCA is also proud to have constructed anumber of new dams as well as rehabilitating oldones. The Mugumu dam project for example willsolve the problem of water scarcity in and aroundMugumu town, the headquarters of SerengetiDistrict inMara region.With a storage capacity ofabout 14 million cubic meters, the Mugumu proj-ect can now serve more than 35,000 residents andabout 25,000 livestock for 3 consecutive years in-case of prolonged drought.

Mwanyahina dam (1.5 million cubic meters)in Meatu village of Shinyanga region is anotherproject that the agency is proud of. TheKinyambwinga project in Bunda district of Mararegion, whose construction provided water tonearly 3,900 people and 44,640 livestock and the4.2m cubic metre new Sola dam at Maswa townthat was rehabilitated and serves more than65,000 residents and 100,000 livestock are otherexamples of DDCA’s determination to reach dis-tant communities.

The DDCA also supports private boreholedrilling like the Arusha based A to Z Textile Millwater project which will ensure year round watersufficiency to increase industrial productivity.The mill produces long lasting mosquito nets thatcheck the spread of malaria. This project includedthe drilling of three deep and sustainable waterboreholes with a production capacity of about 270cubic meters per hour each, and the constructionof water tanks and supply pipelines.

Set service delivery standards that ensurequality, efficiency, cost effectiveness and strongcustomers focus are mainstays of the DDCA. Theagency aspires to be the leading andmost efficientorganization in and outside the country in waterwell drilling and the construction of water storagedams. The company is committed to provingclients with value for money services.

By Staff Reporter

BARLEY farmers in theNorthern and Southernhighlands of Tanzaniahave received a muchneeded boost.

The Tanzania Breweries Limited(TBL) has set aside TSH 2billion forpre-financing of barley farmers in thetwo regions.

Through TBL “Project Saidiana,”inspired by the Kilimo kwanza initia-tive, the company is also extendingmalt farming in selected regions. Areasof the country that currently supplymalt to the firm include KilimanjaroWest, Karatu, Iringa, Sumbawaga andMbeya, with Moshi to soon join suit.

This follows ever declining produc-tion volumes that have dipped from6,000 metric tonnes in year 2000 toonly 2500 tonnes last year in theNorthern region alone. The shortfallshave caused the small scale growers tofail to meet their contracts with thebeverages firm.

The malt barley plant in Moshiwill supply TBL’s brew plants in Dares Salaam, Arusha and Mwanza tosave the firm from importing its malt.At the moment the TBL is importingmalt barley from South Africa to coverthe current deficit in the country.

TBL’s Malt Plant Manager VitusMhusi said that the firm has extendedmalt farming in the country to meetthe high demand of the crop.

“Along with the challenge of maltfarming, the shortage of rainfall hascontributed a lot to the falling quantityand quality of malt. We are providingassistance to the growers to see thatquality is improved,” TBL’s MaltQuality Manager Alex Msuya is quot-ed as saying.

Of the 43 farmers who are seekingpre finance assistance from TBL, 36

farmers (84%) will receive financial as-sistance to the total budgeted amount.Those farmers who did not qualify for

financial assistance from already owethe brewery money for financial assis-tance in previous years. “Eleven farm-

ers from the Northern highlands re-gion will receive TSH 548million. Eachfarmer will be treated individually for

the setting of pre finance limits,” astatement from the firm also said.

According to the leading alcoholicbeverages firm, the total budget setaside for pre financing of the barleyfarmers in the Southern Highlands isover TSH 1.4/- billion. Twenty fivefarmers in the south have been ap-proved for pre financing.

In some cases the company will ex-tend the standard pre finance arrange-ments of pre financing only fertilisersand chemicals, to now include financialassistance in soil preparation, plantingand harvesting activities. Most of thefarmers in the south will benefit fromthis extended pre-financing. A few in-dividuals have also arranged their ownpre financing whereas the newlyformed co-operatives are being pre fi-nanced by Stanbic Bank.

According to TBL’sCommunication Manager EdithMushi, the Project Saidiana hasbought 6,600 metric tonnes of its17,000 tonne quota of malt barley fromsmall scale growers in Tanzania.

TBL has also engaged 543 smallgrowers in the North East regions andover 15,000 farmers in the SouthernZones. Since 2003, the TBL has alsobeen paying 3% as barley cess.

The decision to extend loans cameas most of the farmers in the SouthernHighlands are new to barley farmingand as such faced bottlenecks in ac-cessing regular bank loans. The TBLhas also invested in extension officerswho offer training to farmers.

The company has advised farmersto use quality seed, pursue irrigationand to utilize advice given by agricul-tural extension services in order to reg-ister production success in coming sea-sons The funding comes as a hugeboost to the country’s efforts in KilimoKwanza especially in the production ofhigh value commercial crops.

DDCA – Responding to thechallenge by providing water

drilling servicesTBL – Prefinancingfarmers for the2011 barley crop

A group of barley farmers fromSouthern Highlands of Tanzaniadiscussing with Mr. BenjaminBudigila - Technical brewer- TBL(far right) during a recent visitby the farmers to the TBLbrewery plant in Dar es Salaam

The Drilling and Dam ConstructionAgency (DDCA) is a GovernmentExecutive Agency under the Ministryof Water. It was formally establishedin January, 1997, under theGovernment Executive Agencies ActNo.30 of 1997, and was launchedon the 26th of March 1999.DDCA is a leading organization in

the country in providing servicesthat access to water sources. Weoffer services that are value formoney to a wide range ofcustomers, Individuals, Internationaland Local Institutions, Industries,Local Authorities, Community BasedOrganizations (CBOs), Non-Governmental Organizations(NGOs), Government Institutions,etc

The role of DDCA is to developsustainable and safe water sourcesthrough efficient means and at costeffective price. This objective is inline with the national objective ofalleviating poverty and improvingthe health of people throughprovision of clean, safe, andadequate water supply to rural andurban population.

OOUURR SSEERRVVIICCEESS::We offer services that are value formoney to a wide range ofcustomers; Individuals, Institutions,industries, local governmentauthorities, community basedorganizations (CBO’ s), Non-Governmental Organizations(NGO’ s), Government Institutions,International Organizations etc.Services offered by the Agencyinclude the following:- • Topographical survey, soil testing

and designing of earth fill dams.• Ground water prospecting using

modern state of the art

technology.• Drilling operations, measuring

yield of water wells andlaboratory analysis for waterquality.

• Soil sampling to monitorunderground formations(lithology)

• Installation of pumping systems(e.g. Diesel, solar or electricdriven submersible pumps, handpumps etc).

• Service, maintenance andrehabilitation of boreholes.

• Construction and rehabilitation ofearth fill dams.

• Construction of small scale watersupply schemes.

• Training of caretakers onmanagement of community waterwells and dams.

• Training of caretakers onmaintenance of hand, electric andsolar pumps both surface andsub-surface.

• Hire of heavy plants and servicevehicles.

• Threading and slotting of UPVCcasings

• Provision of consultancy services.

OOFFFFIICCEE LLOOCCAATTIIOONN::UUBBUUNNGGOO,, OOFFFF UUNNIIVVEERRSSIITTYY RRDD..

CCOONNTTAACCTTSS::DRILLING AND DAMCONSTRUCTION AGENCY,P. O. BOX 55658,DAR ES SALAAM,TANZANIA.

TELEPHONES: +255-22-2410430/ 22 2410299FAX: +255-22-2410430E-MAIL: ddca@maji.go.tz WEBSITE: http//www.ddca.tz.com

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Our drinking water filters range from simple tapwater filters (10 000/-) and table-top water filters (80000/-) to modern reverse osmosis systems (from 500000/- and up). These new water filtration systems canprovide a home or hotel with as much as 600 litres ofpure drinking water per hour.

We supply a variety of water tanks and reservoirs,from 500 litres to 500,000 litres, to homes, hotels andlodges. Government agencies, such as the TanzanianMinistry of Water, have purchased our reservoirs.

We provide simple and cost effective irrigationsystems that anyone at home could install. There’s noneed for specialist technicians.

Nabaki introduced the IPS threaded piping sys-tem into Tanzania during the 1990’s and remains thesole distributor. IPS piping is now the market leaderand sells in hundreds of outlets throughout the coun-try. Another advanced piping system, the PlomyClick‘push-fit’ piping system, is a favourite amongst com-mercial users as it is the fastest system to install - youdon’t require electricity or specialist tools. The pipingis available in one hundred metre rolls and is able tobend around corners, so fewer fittings are required.

We are also proud to introduce the Jaquar rangeof quality taps and bathroom accessories. These prod-ucts are beautifully designed, are manufactured toBritish standards and sell at very competitive prices.

Nabaki Afrika may be best known for its swim-ming pool expertise and we have sold over a thousandpools to homes and hotels. We have an extensiverange of accessories and equipments for all pools andsupply all the maintenance chemicals.

Nabaki Afrika’s excellent reputation has beenbuilt by providing quality products that our customerstrust.

Nabaki Afrika has been providing water solutions to Tanzania for almost two decades

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MAJI WEEKThe Guardian KILIMO KWANZA Tuesday 22 March, 2011

8

ment of improved and commercially viable breeds of cattle.The Preliminary National Sample Census of Agriculture andLivestock report claims significant progress in the livestocksector, with a reported increase in the number of cattle to 22million.

Unveiled by the Minister for Agriculture, Food Securityand Cooperatives Prof Jumannne Maghembe last week, thereport among other things notes that 97.2 per cent of cattlein the country are local breeds, where only 2.4 per cent areused for dairy and 0.3 per cent for beef production. Accordingto sample census the number of local breeds of cattle in-creased by 20 per cent on the mainland but decreased by3.7% in Zanzibar.

With the current outlook, has the support for artificialinsemination and veterinary services resulted in improvedlivestock breeds? Currently Tanzania has the third largestherd in the continent but the livestock sector contributesonly 4 per cent to the GDP.

In the current budget, the government also introducedseveral additional VAT and customs duty reliefs. Large plan-tations for example were supposed to gain from exemptionson transportation of agricultural products which would re-duce their current VAT burden.

There was also a reduction in excise duty on heavy fueloil, the plan being to eliminate this duty over three years,which would have provided a shot in the arm for diesel de-pendent processors and transporters. The exemptions onagricultural implements like combine harvesters, mowersand hay making machinery were also not new as most ofthese items are already exempt. However to date, importersof such machinery continue to face customs and tax grid-locks.

The overriding impression in agriculture is that tax re-lief appear to have little effect or no effect on overall sectorperformance. With this in mind, coupled with ongoing de-velopments across other sectors of the economy, it is of littlesurprise therefore that legislators demanded to know whythe government is ‘throwing away’ billions of shillings in taxexemptions, while depending massively on donors to financethe budget.

Kidunda dam in Morogoro region forexample will support water supply inperiods of shortage along the Ruvu.The 260,000 cubic meter Kimbijisource, expansion of the daily intakecapacities of both the Lower Ruvu(180,000 to 270,000 cubic meters) andUpper Ruvu (81,000 – 150,000 cubicmetres) have also responded to thegrowing clean water needs. DAWASAalso has in place water pipelines link-ing Kibaha with Kimara area and an-other linking the Lower Ruvu to theUniversity of Dar es Salaam (ChuoKikuu) area.

Rehabilitation of the sewer systemhas been undertaken and extensionsare underway to ensure that waterflows from storm drains and rain waterno longer seep into the sewer system.“Residents in some areas may notice in-creased flooding after rainfall. This isbecause the rain water no longer seepsinto the sewer system. What is nowneeded is the rehabilitation of the wa-ter drains,” the engineer noted.

Future development plans includethe building of sewer and water treat-ment plants at Jangwani, Mbezi andKurasini areas.

Neli further explains thatDAWASA provides free water projectmanagement training which is reapingpositive results across project areas.Training covers all aspects of the proj-ect from conception, community mobi-

lization and choice of technology, proj-ect leadership, contractor supervision,water quality, operation, maintenanceand financial management.

Boreholes, water reservoirs andwater kiosks are being better protected,maintained and run by the communi-ties using the water sources. DAWASAextends a word of congratulations to allcommunities, individuals, groups andcompanies for their efforts in maintain-ing, protecting and preserving waterand sewerage infrastructure. Thanksto the project management training,community members know that wateris a commodity that is sold and bought.Many people also know that it is acriminal offence to damage water fit-tings and public water appliances, andwrong to erect structures on any part ofthe water works. They are also begin-ning to learn that dumping garbageinto sewer lines is not only counter pro-ductive, but also punishable by law.

Many however forget that it is alsoan offense to pollute any part of the wa-terworks, including forested areas, wa-ter fountains, tunnels, pipes or dams.We all need to change our attitude to-wards water conservation and manage-

ment. Wells and underground waterresources also draw their water supplyfrom rivers.

Underground water is a crucial incoastline cities like ours.

“Underground water sources inmany parts of Dar now produce salinewater with different salt levels,”Engineer Ndibalema says. She howev-er urges residents to change their neg-ative perception of saline water be-cause although it cannot be used forcooking and drinking, it is still good forother tasks like household chores andcleaning.

However there are areas where un-derground water is unusable because itis polluted or excessively salty. In somethe water has disappeared altogether.Environmental degradation, pollutionand destruction of above the land waterbodies like lakes and rivers are con-tributing factors to this increased salin-ity and even scarcity of undergroundwater sources. The Msimbazi RiverValley for example is choking under ef-fluence and garbage. This should andcould be a valuable water resource. Asthe urban population explodes, stretch-ing city limits, human settlements are

now encroaching on crucial watercatchment areas.

As a key first step in environmentalconservation, DAWASA supports treeplanting projects by community groupslike Kingalu Urithi Wetu naMaendeleo of Morogoro and activelyparticipates in environmental conser-vation.

DAWASA also supports urbanfarming, albeit indirectly. There aremany agricultural projects across thecity that benefit from clean water pro-vided by DAWASA. These includechicken and livestock rearing projectsin far flung areas like Kitunda. “Wecarried the mantle of Kilimo Kwanzadirectly when the irrigation mandatewas still under the Ministry for Water,”Neli said. She cautioned against usingpiped water for irrigation.

Wholesome attitude change to-wards water use habits and conserva-tion still pose the greatest challenge tosustainable water management. We allshould carefully examine our waterhabits and discover our own ways ofconserving this precious yet limited re-source. In those instances for example,where the use of clean tapped watercan be replaced by underground wateror water sourced from other sourceslike rain water, there should be no hes-itation to switch to these alternatives.This will ensure that the trickle reach-es the next person, and that clean andsafe water remains readily available forforthcoming generations.

KILIMOKWANZADIRECTORY

WATER AND SANITATION

Dar es Salaam Water and Sewerage Authority(DAWASA) – Tel: +255 22 276 0006

Dar es Salaam Water and Sewarage Corporation(DAWASCO) Tel: +255 22-2131191/4

Drilling and Dam Construction Agency (DDCA)Tel: +255 22 2410430/2410299

Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority Tel: +255 22 2123850, 22 2123853

Water and Environmental Sanitation ProjectsMaintenance Organization (WEPMO)Tel: +255 22 2410738, 716 099959

Ministry of WaterTel: +255 22 245 1448

INDUSTRY SUPPORT ANDASSOCIATIONS

Small Industries Development Organization(SIDO) – Email: dg@sido.go.tz, info@sido.go.tz

ANSAF - P.O. Box 6370, Dar es Salaam

CNFA - info@cnfatanzania.org

Tractors LimitedCells: +255 784 421606, 786 150213

Consolidated Holdings Corporation (CHC)Tel: 255 (022) 2117988/9

Vocational Education and Training Authority(VETA) – Tel: +255 22 2863683/2863409

Export Processing Zones in Tanzania (EPZ)Tel: +255 22 2451827-9

Agricultural Economics Society of Tanzania(AGREST) – Tel. +255-23 260 3415

Tanzania National Business Council (TNBC)Tel: +255 22 2122984-6

Tanzania Agriculture Partnership (TAP)Tel: +255 22 2124851

Tanzania Milk Processors Association (TAMPA)Tel: +255 222 450 426

Rural Livelihood Development Company (RLDC)Tel: +255 26 2321455

Tanzania Cotton BoardTel: +255 22 2122564, 2128347

Horticultural Development Council of Tanzania (HODECT)Cell: +255 789 222 344; Fax: +255 27254 4568

TATEECO Ltd – Tel: +255 784 427817

AGRO-PROCESSING

ERTH Food - Tel: +255 22 2862040

MUKPAR Tanzania Ltd Tel: +255 28 250038/184

ASAS Diaries Limited - Tel: +255 26 2725200

Tanga Fresh – Tel +255 27 2644238

NatureRipe Kilimanjaro LimitedTel: +255 22 21 51457

EQUIPMENT

Gurudumu Tatu LimitedTel: +255 22 2865632 / 2863699

National Service Corporation Sole (SUMAJKT)Cell: +255 717 993 874, 715 787 887

FINANCE

Private Agricultural Sector Support (PASS)Tel: 023-3752/3758/3765

Community Bank AssociationTel: +255 22 2123245

Bank of TanzaniaP.O. Box 2939, Dar es Slaam, Tanzania

AGRO-INPUTS

Minjingu Mines & Fertilizers LtdTel: +255 27 253 9259 250 4679

DAWASA - Responding tothe Urban Water Challenges

Kilimo Kwanza:Govt criticised

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From page 7

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