Sokoine University of Agriculture has signed a formal contract with the Madaba District Council in Ruvuma for the ownership of a 10,000 hectare farm for tree farming and practical training for its students and the community.
Speaking before signing the contract in the council hall, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Research and Professional Consultancy, Prof. Maulid Mwatawala, on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Raphael Chibunda, said that the purpose of the farm is for training and increasing revenue.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Research and Professional Consultancy, Prof. Maulid Mwatawala, delivered a message from SUA before signing the contract.
‘Currently, the government is urging universities to increase their internal revenue so that they can operate independently instead of relying on government subsidies, and as Sokoine University, we are experts in forestry matters and through our experience gained in our Olmotonyi Forest in Arusha, we have decided to invest here in Madaba and we believe we will be an example to other universities,’ explained Prof. Mwatawala.
He said that the pace of tree planting on the Ifinga farm has now been boosted by the HEET project, which has allocated funds to expand the farm and increase the number of trees to be planted, with 500 hectares expected to be planted this year alone.
Prof. Mwatawala said that the area of the farm they took over after paying compensation to villagers in Magingo village for building a factory to process forest products and add value will make sense if the factory gets trees to process, especially from that farm.
Delivering greetings from Madaba District, the District Executive Director Mr. Sajidu Idrisa said he believes SUA’s arrival will not only help accelerate tree planting but also help increase income for residents who will be employed on the farm as well as villages and councils.”
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