MVIWATA have participated in the Parliamentary Session of the United Republic of Tanzania where the Ministry of Agriculture through the Minister, Professor, Adolf Mkenda presented the Revenue and Expenditure Plan for the year 2021/2022. In line with the speech, the Ministry also presented the implementation of the 2020/2021 budget.
The delegation of MVIWATA comprising representatives from Morogoro, Mtwara, Manyara Singida and Mbeya, with a section of MVIWATA staff participated in the session where the Ministry of Agriculture presented budget priorities for the year 2021/2022 namely Research, Extension services, Irrigation, Markets, Financial services for farmers and Seeds.
However, the budget requested by the Ministry for approval by Parliament is 0.08% of the total budget despite the fact that according to the Ministry’s figures, Agriculture contributes 29 percent of GDP, 30 percent of foreign exchange earnings and employs approximately 58 percent of Tanzanians.
During the introduction of MVIWATA delegation, the Speaker of the National Assembly of the United Republic of Tanzania, Hon. Job Ndugai commended the role played by MVIWATA in the country, through its advocacy activities on all issues affecting smallholder farmers. The speaker also named other MVIWATA activities like trainings in the fields of agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, environment, leadership, and legal aid provision as matters of critical importance to smallholder farmers.
