TANZANIA TO ESTABLISH TRACTOR ASSEMBLY FIRM FOR HIGHER PRODUCTION

In a bid to strengthen agricultural productivity, the government is looking forward to establishing a tractor assembling plant in the country.

Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda told parliament yesterday that the government had initiated talks with three Chinese companies so that they could start supplying tractors in the country.

The Premier said the government was considering the establishment of an assembly company to minimise the shipping cost as well as boost the industrialisation sector in the country.

He said that so far one company has been connected to Suma JKT and that soon the government would reach a consensus on the importation of tractors.

“We have asked these companies to import at least 3,000 tractors through Suma JKT...our aim is to bring in more tractors so that farmers can practice modern agriculture at a cheap cost,” said Mr Pinda.

He said that at least 200 tractors have been imported, adding that 20 of them would be shipped to Zanzibar. Commenting on the importation of tractors from India, Mr Pinda said Tanzania asked for $90 million but the government of India was not in a good position economically to support the project.

Mr Pinda was responding to Ms Martha Mlata (Special Seats-CCM) who had asked the government to ease conditions to help more farmers to get tractors from Suma JKT at lower prices.