Sokoine University of Agriculture has signed a formal contract with the Madaba District Council in Ruvuma for the ownership of a 10,000 hectare farm for tree farming and practical training for its students and the community.
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| The Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Research and Professional Consultancy, Prof. Maulid Mwatawala, delivered a message from SUA before signing the contract.
Speaking before signing the contract in the council hall, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Research and Professional Consultancy, Prof. Maulid Mwatawala, on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Raphael Chibunda, said that the purpose of the farm is for training and increasing revenue. ‘Currently, the government is urging universities to increase their internal revenue so that they can operate independently instead of relying on government subsidies, and as Sokoine University, we are experts in forestry matters and through our experience gained in our Olmotonyi Forest in Arusha, we have decided to invest here in Madaba and we believe we will be an example to other universities,’ explained Prof. Mwatawala. He said that the pace of tree planting on the Ifinga farm has now been boosted by the HEET project, which has allocated funds to expand the farm and increase the number of trees to be planted, with 500 hectares expected to be planted this year alone. Prof. Mwatawala said that the area of the farm they took over after paying compensation to villagers in Magingo village for building a factory to process forest products and add value will make sense if the factory gets trees to process, especially from that farm. Delivering greetings from Madaba District, the District Executive Director Mr. Sajidu Idrisa said he believes SUA’s arrival will not only help accelerate tree planting but also help increase income for residents who will be employed on the farm as well as villages and councils.”
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| The District Executive Director, Mr. Sajidu Idrisa, spoke before signing the contract. |
In order for the council to perform well and implement various development projects, it must have sufficient revenue from its various activities, so we believe that the university will generate revenue and increase its internal revenue, but also our council will generate revenue from you and other investors,’ explained Mr. Idrisa.
He took the opportunity to advise SUA to continue to accelerate tree planting on the farm and to help teach the community best practices in tree farming and how to deal with fire disasters that greatly affect the crop.
The college principal of the Forestry, Wildlife and Tourism , Dr. Agnes Sirima, said that they have already planted about 1,000 hectares of timber trees since 2018 when they acquired the area and the pace of planting is increasing every year depending on the availability of funds.
‘We have continued to have good relations with the council as well as the people of Ifinga village, where during that time the university has done various things as its contribution to the community, including building 20 toilet pits at Ifinga primary school, providing fire education to the community and building capacity for village leaders and councillors,’ explained Dr. Sirima.
She added that in addition to this contribution, the farm also provides employment for more than 200 young people who perform various planting and other farm services, thus earning an income to support their families.
For his part, the Chairman of Madaba Council, Hon. Teofawe Mlewa, who led the signing on behalf of the people, said there have been significant development changes in Matumbi ward after welcoming investors unlike seven years ago.
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| The Chairman of Madaba Council, Hon. Teofawe Mlewa, emphasized a point to the leaders of Ifinga village. |
‘We have every reason to thank the investors and the leadership of Madaba Council for the great work being done to bring development to Matumbi ward and Ifinga village, as now since the world was created there are coaster buses reaching the village because the road is good, but in the past we used to walk more than 50 kilometers on foot as an executive,’ explained Hon. Mlewa.
He urged village and ward leaders and residents to continue to welcome investors in their villages by following laws and procedures to stimulate development instead of being obstacles and hindering investment in their areas and setting back their development.
The contract between SUA and Madaba District Council was signed and witnessed by district leaders, the Chairman of the Council, Hon. Teofawe Mlewa, the Councillor for that ward, Hon. Valentine Mtemahuty, the Chairman of Ifinga village Rhomanusi Hangowi and his executive Baraka Jailos.
EVENTS IN PICTURES DURING THE SIGNING OF THE CONTRACT.”
