In facilitating farmers’ participation in national budget processes, MVIWATA organized a one-day meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture, Division of Policy and Planning of which Mr Mohamed Chikawe an officer in the Division presented to the smallholder farmers and members of MVIWATA the status of implementation of the budget of the Ministry of Agriculture for 2020/2021 and its estimates for 2021/2022.
Held at MVIWATA Headquarters Conference Hall, the meeting brought together thirty 30 farmers representing farmers’ groups and networks of Mvomero District. Other participants were Mvomero District Agricultural, Irrigation and Cooperative Officer (DAICO), Mvomero District Planning Officer, Students from Sokoine University of Agriculture and MVIWATA staffs.
Speaking during the opening session, MVIWATA Executive Director, Mr, Stephen Ruvuga said the session aimed at ensuring smallholder farmers are at the center and engaged in government budget processes, and that this has been MVIWATA’s practice for several years in determining their priorities in the budget and understanding its implementation.
Mr, Ruvuga added that, farmers has the right to understand the priorities and the extent of implementation reached by the Ministry of Agriculture because farmers are the main beneficiaries of the budget processes. He thanked the Ministry of Agriculture Division of Policy and Planning for their collaborative efforts aimed at ensuring that the main concerns of farmers are given priority in various government programs including the Agricultural Budget.
Presenting through online means, Mr, Mohamed Chikawe from the Division of Policy and Planning of the Ministry of Agriculture said the 2021/2022 budget estimates has considered several key guidelines including Tanzania Development Vision 2025, The Five Year Development Plan, CCM Manifesto, Agriculture Sector Development Programme II (ASDP II) and the Budget Guidelines 2021/2022.
He further added that 28.1% of the ministries budget for 2021/2022 will be spent for recurrent expenditure mainly servicing government debt and wages and salaries and 71.9% is allocated to development projects. Mr. Chikawe added that, the government’s budget on agriculture is based on four main priorities which are research, extension services, production of seeds and seed plants and managing the invasive species.
The meeting was also broadcasted live through MVIWATA FM radio, 106.7 MHz.
