During his six-day professional tour, the Tanzanian Minister of Agriculture, Japhet Hasunga assured that the Tanzanian government is committed to focus on agriculture domain as a high priority by prevailing a viable over a subsistence farming in the sector.

In light of the Israeli strategic move, he insisted on the top necessity for Tanzania to invest in irrigation system.

Minister Hasunga assured that Tanzania has huge areas that fit the irrigation agriculture, including Rufiji area where the construction of Nyerere electricity dam is in progress and soon after its completion there is the expectation of having an average of 150,000 hectares for agriculture.

Minister Hasunga however said that still a high percentage of farmers in Tanzania keep on using hand hoes which cannot boost their productivity. "We use the most outdated hand hoes. Our agriculture depends mostly on the rainy season which affects significantly the return, we owe each other to learn from our colleagues" said Minister Hasunga. First and foremost, the Tanzanian government could assist the farmers to change of irrigation system which would allow them to work throughout the year instead of being rain dependent.

Minister Hasunga informed that the Ministry of Agriculture in cooperation with the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment of Tanzania work together to optimize the agricultural revenue and increase the raw materials’ production to contribute to raising and regulating the government's requirements in the industrial sector.

With reference to the crop sector, Minister Hasunga said that the Tanzanian government keeps on applying a specific marketing strategy as it formed a unit in the Ministry of Agriculture in charge of overseeing the markets to develop.

Minister Hasunga has invited Israeli key companies to visit Tanzania and assess the wide range of available investments in Tanzania. "Tanzania is a fertile country, a top place to invest in agriculture, so I invite all the companies involved in the agricultural sector of Israel, especially those involved in research and development, to come and visit Tanzania ".

Minister Hasunga said that Israel is a limited agricultural land, but which produces enough food for its own consumption but also for export, which definitely extend and strengthen the Israeli income.

And well, Minister Hasunga warmly congratulated the Tanzanian Embassy in Israel and especially, H.E. Job Daudi Masima, Ambassador for the good work.

As for him, Ambassador Job Masima emphasized that it would be decisive to double the number of applications dedicated to Tanzanian students in Agrostudies.

He stated that Israel had great completion in the technological sector, and it was the duty of Tanzania to seize this unique opportunity and benefiting of the Israeli know-how in agricultural domain, especially irrigation.

On a different note, Ambassador Job Masima added that the Tanzanian Embassy in Israel was very much involved in furthering and reinforcing Israeli tourism to Tanzania which markedly increased.

  • The Tanzanian Minister of Agriculture, Japhet Hasunga (right) discussing with Mr. Shay Haxter, Head of Project Africa, Netafim during a visit to the Agricultural Research Center accompanied by Amb. Job Daudi Masima (left).
  • The Tanzanian Minister of Agriculture, Japhet Hasunga (center) discussing with the Tanzanian Ambassador to Israel, Mr. Job Daudi Masima (right) at the Embassy's office, Ramat Gan, Israel accompanied by Brigadier General Kahema Juni Mziray, Defence Attache (left).
  • The Tanzanian Minister of Agriculture, Japhet Hasunga signing the Visitors’ book shortly after visiting the Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania in Israel.