By Staff writer. Morogoro. Smallholder farmers in the country have been urged to participate in a constitutional review process by giving their views on the current draft so as the new constitution stipulates clearly their rights.
The call was given by former Prime minister Fredrick Sumaye, who was the guest of honour to the initiation of the 20th anniversary ceremony of Mtandao wa Vikundi vya Wakulima (MVIWATA) cerebrated on 23-26 July this year in Morogoro.
“I understand that as farmers’ national network, MVIWATA had already submitted your views on the constitution, but now it’s your turn to seat as a constitutional council and go through the draft and see if it has included your suggestions…if not, you have another chance to tell them your opinions for the current draft,” he said.
He said, farmers were comprising over 70 percent of the country population and thus it was their right to own the new constitution and later decide on kind of leaders that they want to put into power and shun all the corrupt ones.
This year’s annual general meeting and the 20th anniversary gathered hundreds of participants accompanied a series of informative workshops on topics of smallholder farmers’ interests.
Among other things, Hon.Sumaye also insisted that if the country was serious with the agriculture sector, it was necessary that small farmers are involved in all process of drafting agricultural programmes and policies for them to have tangible results.
Regarding the prevailing land conflicts between farmers and pastoralists, the guest of honour urged them to end their disputes by following proper channels and shun all people that were fueling conflicts knowing that such fights would hinder farmers from attaining green revolution and alleviating poverty in their communities.
He reminded the government to take such disputes very seriously together with other challenges facing farmers and guaranteeing them conducive producing environment while ensuring country’s food security.
Earlier, the Chairman of MVIWATA Board of directors, Habibu Simbamkuti, explained that farmers were delighted seeing their organ that was established two decades ago sailing through enormous challenges but significantly making changes to small-scale famers as individual and in their groups.
He pointed out that the organisation was focused to unify small holder farmers while continuing to provide them with possible trainings that empowers them economically, politically and socially.
Giving a vote of thanks to the guest of honour, the executive Director Stephen Ruvuga said that big challenge worrying most small holder farmers in the country was the trend of current agricultural policies that seems to embrace and prefer foreign investors while fueling land grabbing.
