Revitalizing Agriculture in Tarime District

Tarime District in Tanzania’s Mara Region is renowned for its vibrant agricultural community, yet local farmers faced formidable challenges in accessing markets for their produce. The lack of infrastructure and facilities prevented them from achieving fair prices and maintaining quality. Recognizing this crucial gap, the government, influenced by the Civic Social Protection Foundation (CSP), prioritized the completion of the Remagwe strategic market.

On May 27, 2024, CSP marked a significant milestone by holding a pivotal meeting with the Parliamentary Committee in Dodoma. This meeting focused on advocating for agroforestry practices among smallholder farmers, underscoring CSP’s dedication to promoting sustainable agriculture and improving rural livelihoods. This engagement with the Parliamentary Committee was crucial in pushing CSP’s proposals to the highest legislative levels.

A key outcome of the meeting was the spotlight on the Remagwe strategic market, a project initially undertaken under the DASIP initiative. Despite the construction of the market starting under DASIP, it remained incomplete when the project phased out. Sylvanus Gwiboha, the District Agricultural and Livestock Field Officer (DALFO) from Tarime, highlighted the market’s importance, explaining to the committee how its completion would significantly benefit farmers in Regicheri Ward and surrounding areas.

“…in Tarime, we have a strategic market at Remagwe that was being built through the DASIP project but was not completed after DASIP phased out. We are asking the government to help us because if the market is completed, it will help the farmers to sell their crops and the government to get income,” said Mr. Gwiboha.

This appeal was recorded by Hon. Mwita Mwikabe Waitara, the Member of Parliament for Tarime Rural, and included in the parliamentary agenda (Question No. 478) directed at the Ministry of Agriculture. The government’s response came swiftly on May 29, 2024, from the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Hon. David Silinde, who reported that the tender for completing the market was under evaluation.

“…the Government through the Ministry of Agriculture in the financial year 2023/2024 is continuing with the procedures to complete the construction of the strategic market that was under the DASIP project located in the District Council of Tarime (Sirari) in the village of Remagwe after the tender was announced in December 2023 for finishing the construction of the market,” stated Hon. Silinde.

Furthermore, Hon. Silinde assured that the plan was to finalize the market’s construction within the Ministry’s budget for the 2024/2025 financial year. This completion would boost the business of rice and corn products in border areas, particularly benefiting trade with Kenya.

“The Ministry will continue to complete the construction of the market in the financial year 2024/2025. Additionally, the completion of the market will enable the development of rice and corn products business in the border areas, especially in Kenya,” emphasized Hon. Silinde.

Local farmer Maria expressed her gratitude for the government’s commitment to completing the market. “Due to the incompleteness of the market, I have to travel long distances to sell my produce, and sometimes I cannot get a good price. I am happy that once this market (Remagwe) is completed, I will be able to sell my produce in the local market, and my income will increase significantly. I am sure my life and that of many farmers in our village will improve,” Maria shared.

The completion of the Remagwe strategic market is poised to be a game-changer for Tarime’s agricultural sector, providing farmers with improved market access, fair prices, and enhanced livelihoods.