Transformation of grape farming to bring tangible benefits to small-scale growers in Tanzania

To assist small local growers, a grape processing plant is being built at the Chinagali Vineyard in Dodoma, Tanzania. The action, which represents the government’s dedication to supporting modern irrigated grape production in Tanzania, is expected to benefit small-scale growers directly by granting them access to the most up-to-date irrigation technology. Agriculture minister Hussein Bashe said: “This is a 600-acres farm, we are going to divide it into blocks, the government intends to implement a block farming system, and this is a model, already 200 farmers have been identified for the phase which consist of 300 acres, we are going to give them freely.” Bashe said: “The land has been cleared, a modern irrigation system is being installed, we also did some soil analysis and we discovered that the land needs some lime and manure, some of which have been delivered on site, we expect to plant between September and October.” According to the minister, the Chinagali Vineyard which ...