MVIWATA through the support from Trust Africa had a meeting with delegates from Ministry of Agriculture and Members of Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania (Agriculture, Water and Livestock Committee) with the aim of discussion a budget of the Ministry of Agriculture 2019/2020. The meeting was done in May 2019 at St. Gasper Hotel Conference Centre in Dodoma.
In this meeting the Ministry of Agriculture presented an overview of the budget with its key priorities for year 2019/2020 while also presenting agriculture bill 2019 for discussion.
MVIWATA’s propositions were presented by Rehema a smallholder farmer and member of MVIWATA from Gwata, Morogoro rural District. The propositions required the government to increase its budget in constructing irrigation schemes so that smallholder farmers can get rid on overdependence to unpredictable seasonal rains.
Likewise, MVIWATA wanted land security to smallholder farmers while urging the Ministry of Agriculture to collaborate with stakeholders in making sure that the land of which its title deeds were revoked by the president of the United Republic of Tanzania His Excellence Dr. John Pombe Magufuli finally turns into the hands of smallholder farmers as main producers of the country.
In giving his contributions, MVIWATA – Executive Director Mr, Stephen Ruvuga said there is need for a Ministry of Agriculture and stakeholders to come into an understanding though bitter that producers of a variety of produces in Tanzania are smallholder producers.
Mr. Ruvuga gave numerous examples of transnational companies that has failed to ensure production is effected despite having massive land fields in different parts of the country. Therefore, he said the primary role of production in the country has remained in the hands of smallholder farmers. Thus, Mr. Ruvuga said it will be a wise decision for the government, policy makers and stakeholders to make policies and laws that addresses smallholder farmers’ challenges because they are main producers in the country.
Members of Parliament in giving their contributions said that there is a tendency of the government to disregard smallholder farmers’ opinions and propositions in policy making processes and budget formulation sessions and therefore the government continues to make policies and laws that do not reflect the needs and wants of smallholder farmers as main producers in the country.
From the government, The Director of Policy and Planning of the Ministry of Agriculture gave a thankful remark to MVIWATA for uniting smallholder farmers in the country and for the propositions given in discussing the agriculture budget 2019/2020. He said that the propositions by MVIWATA reflect the actual one and firm voice of smallholder producers in Tanzania and the propositions shall be incorporated in the final budget when presented in the parliament for ratification and implementation by the government.
The Chairperson of the Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania for Agriculture, Water and Livestock Committee Hon, Mgimwa concluded the meeting and thanked MVIWATA and Members of Parliament for defending the interests of smallholder farmers while promising that his committee will always be open and shall defend the smallholder farmers’ interests in different levels of decision making.
