Dodoma. Vice President Dr Philip Mpango has officially opened the 2025 national Nanenane Exhibitions, urging leaders at all levels to align their efforts with the implementation of Vision 2050 and sectoral strategies aimed at accelerating agricultural growth to 10 percent annually by the year 2030 and beyond.
Speaking at the national Nanenane grounds in Nzuguni, Dodoma, Dr Mpango emphasised that leaders must take responsibility for guiding farmers, livestock keepers and fishers towards adopting high-value crop production, investing in modern and market-oriented farming practices, and enhancing the sector’s competitiveness locally and internationally.
He called for deliberate efforts to attract domestic and foreign investment in agricultural value chains, particularly in cold-chain infrastructure, post-harvest handling, and modern storage and transportation systems.
Dr Mpango also underscored the importance of investing in smart agriculture technologies, expanding irrigation coverage, improving access to finance and markets, and promoting agribusiness as a sustainable economic driver.
He noted that leaders must champion economic empowerment for smallholder producers by facilitating access to affordable capital, relevant technology, agricultural education and extension services.
He urged greater cooperation between farmers, researchers, extension officers and policymakers, particularly through cooperative development.
On climate adaptation, the Vice President highlighted the need to promote sustainable land use and drought-resilient crop varieties, while expanding cultivated areas to increase productivity.
He also encouraged leaders to sensitise citizens on the availability of soft agricultural loans from banks and financial institutions to support agribusiness ventures.
Dr Mpango said the progress made in agriculture has been driven by the efforts of producers, development partners and policy reforms under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
He cited significant increases in budget allocations as evidence of the government’s commitment to the sector.
The Ministry of Agriculture’s budget for the 2025/26 financial year stands at Sh1.243 trillion, compared to Sh229.99 billion in 2021/22.
Similarly, the budget for the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries has risen to Sh476.6 billion from Sh169.2 billion during the same period.
Key government interventions, he said, include expanding input subsidies, improving access to finance, strengthening farmer cooperatives, enhancing extension services, mechanisation, post-harvest infrastructure development and market access initiatives.
Singida Regional Commissioner, Halima Dendego, who delivered the speech on behalf of the minister for Agriculture, said the ministry was committed to increasing productivity, creating decent employment, and deepening the involvement of youth and women in the sector.
She said the ministry will continue working with stakeholders to enhance food security and nutrition, increase access to export markets, strengthen cooperatives, and adopt ICT systems in agricultural development.
Ms Dendego also noted ongoing efforts to promote environmental conservation among farmers, including protecting water sources, planting trees, and encouraging the responsible use of agricultural technologies.
The 2025 Nanenane exhibitions are being held under the theme: Choose Good Leaders for Sustainable Agricultural, Livestock and Fisheries Development 2025.
The theme aims to raise awareness on the importance of visionary leadership in advancing agricultural transformation as the country heads into the October 2025 General Election.
