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Adeladius Makwega – Serengeti, Mara, Tanzania
Farmers in Mara Region have been urged to adhere to commercial crop calendars, particularly for tobacco, in order to increase productivity, improve their incomes, and contribute to the growth of the national economy.
The call was made on July 10, 2026, in Serengeti District by the Rorya District Commissioner, Hon. Alfa Haule, while representing the Mara Regional Commissioner, Colonel Evans Alfred Mtambi, at a WAMACU meeting that brought together stakeholders in the tobacco sector in the region.
Speaking at the meeting, Hon. Haule emphasized that the agriculture sector is a key pillar of the economy, directly impacting the lives of citizens from the individual level up to the national level.
“The agriculture sector is a major source of income. It has the capacity to raise the income of individuals, households, villages, wards, divisions, districts, regions, and the nation as a whole. It is the responsibility of citizens to increase efforts in this sector while the government continues to support them,” said Haule.
He also urged farmers to comply with agricultural guidelines and follow official production and marketing schedules to avoid losses and prevent the smuggling of crops.
“I kindly urge all WAMACU members and farmers in general to ensure that they follow the guidelines for tobacco farming and other crops, including crop calendars. This will help increase productivity and prevent criminals from smuggling these crops,” he stressed.
In another development, the Serengeti District Commissioner, Ms. Angelina Marko, highlighted the challenge of delayed payments to farmers, noting that some cooperative societies had received funds but had not paid farmers due to debts owed to financial institutions.
“It is important for primary cooperatives to ensure timely payments to farmers in order to eliminate unnecessary complaints and restore farmers’ trust in their cooperatives,” said Hon. Marko.
On his part, the WAMACU Chairman, Mr. Mwamanyi Range, commended the Tobacco Board for bringing services closer to farmers in Mara, a move that has reduced the distance previously required to access such services from Tabora to Serengeti.
“Previously, these services were available in Tabora, about 550 kilometers away. Now they are here in Serengeti, making it easier for our farmers to access them,” said Range.
Encouraging farmers to increase their efforts in tobacco farming, Range stated that Mara Region has great production potential that has not yet been fully utilized.
“Why is Tabora widely recognized as a leader in tobacco farming while in Tarime almost every crop thrives? It is time for the people of Mara to wake up, work hard, and take full advantage of this opportunity under WAMACU,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, the Serengeti Regional Tobacco Manager, Sostenese Kikwelele, said that the Tobacco Board has opened an office in the district to boost production and bring services closer to farmers.
“Our goal is to increase production from three million kilograms to ten million. This is achievable if all stakeholders in the tobacco value chain work closely together,” said Kikwelele.
According to statistics, as of early July 2026, the Serengeti Tobacco Region produces 2,650,846 kilograms of tobacco, with projections to reach 10,526,758 kilograms by 2030.
For contacts:
Email: makwadeladius@gmail.com
Phone: 0717649257
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