By Alfred Ngotezi
A leading local sisal producer, Katani Ltd of Tanga, has offered 20,000 hectares of land to willing members of the public on the first-come-first serve order to start sisal farms in the country.
The firm’s Managing Director Mr. Salum Shamte announced this on 17 September 2011 at Tanga Beach Resort in Tanga City during the 2011 National Social Security Fund’s Editors’ Forum.
Mr. Shamte told the senior media practitioners and the Fund’s top management that the land would be given free of charge, elaborating that the minimum size per individual seeker is six hectares while the maximum size is 200 hectares. He added that once all registration procedures were done Katani Ltd would plough, plant and tend the sisal farms.
According to the MD, the only expense for prospective farmers is payment of 20 per cent of the total farming cost which is $750 per hectare per year. Since the 20 per cent ‘entrepreneurial cost’ is evenly spread for the plant’s three-year gestation period, it means it will cost the farmers $46 per hectare per year.
Mr. Shamte further explained that after the three years, farmers would start harvesting the crop for the next 20 years, earning about Tshs. 1Million per month per hectare. The MD who promised to cover other areas in the country soon, attributed the crop’s high market price to its rediscovered value and the world’s current paradigm shift to agriculture.
With a targeted Tanzanian industrial production of 1 million tons, sisal fibre which is only 2 per cent of the crop is extensively used in composites, construction and production of superior buffing cloth, pulp and paper.
The crop’s hitherto 98 per cent waste is currently utilized for production of biogas, electricity, organic fertilizer, ethanol, alcohol and pharmaceuticals. Already Katani Ltd has invested in power generation producing 3.8 Megawatts in its Phase One projects at Ngombezi 1, Hale, Mwelya Biogas and Ngombezi Biogas.
Meanwhile, the Director General of National Social Security Fund Dr Ramadhani Dau has announced the Fund’s readiness to extend a $ 10 million loan to Katani Ltd for developing the sisal crop.
Dr. Dau was speaking on 17 September 2011 at the Editors Forum in Tanga. He said the Fund’s Board of Trustees had already approved the credit adding that what was pending at the moment was the completion of administrative steps before releasing the funds.
Further, Dr Dau told the media practitioners that construction of the proposed Kigamboni Bridge was on course adding that President Jakaya Kikwete would lay its foundation stone on December 9, 2011. At the moment, he explained, seven contractors have been short listed out of whom the most optimal would be picked to carry out the job.
Mr. Shamte, this offer looks very interesting especially to the Diaspora! But could you use this same media i.e. Michuzi, and give us a clear break-down on how you have arrived at a figure of Tshs.1 million a month?That is if the crop prevails or otherwise,taking into consideration natural catastrophies like drought, floods,disease etc. What measures have you taken to secure the potential entrepreneurs monies? This could be Insurance?etc. as fall back incase the unforeseen happens?I/We would like the views of an Agricultural scientist well read and practised in this field regarding this Crop. In a hurry....
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