DODOMA, Tanzania – The Dodoma regional administration, under the leadership of Regional Commissioner (RC) Hon. Rosemary S. Senyamule, has officially designated apple farming as a strategic crop initiative (“zao la mkakati”) aimed at fundamentally transforming the economic fortunes of the region and its residents. This ambitious agricultural push seeks to elevate household incomes and bolster Dodoma’s overall economic standing, which currently lags behind national averages.
The decision follows a 2023 collaborative research study conducted with the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (MBS), which highlighted that both individual and regional GDP in Dodoma were below the national benchmarks. “We established that the economic situation for the people of Dodoma and the region itself is still below the national level,” stated RC Senyamule. “Therefore, alongside our many essential duties, we have a profound responsibility to change the economy of the people of Dodoma and the economy of the Dodoma region.”
RC Senyamule emphasized that this economic drive is also spurred by the significant investments made by President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan in Dodoma, including numerous strategic and capital city projects. “With these trillions of shillings invested in Dodoma, we must ask ourselves: what are we giving back to the President?” she queried. “There must be production that allows this money to return to government circulation, and for us to contribute meaningfully through taxes or other economic cycles. Dodoma is not just an administrative city; it must also grow economically because its citizens need better lives and a robust economy, and the region needs to contribute to the national income.”
With 72% of Dodoma’s population dependent on agriculture, the focus naturally turned to this sector. While various crops thrive in Dodoma, the apple was singled out for several strategic reasons. “The President encouraged us, stating Tanzania will feed Africa, Tanzania will feed the world, and initiated large strategic irrigation projects,” Senyamule noted.
The choice of apples is multifaceted:
- Environmental Benefits: Apple trees contribute to a healthier environment by producing oxygen.
- Nutritional Value: Apples provide essential nutrition for the populace.
- Economic Empowerment: Selling apples offers a direct income source for households, as seen in other regions.
- Market Opportunity & Reduced Competition: As apple cultivation is not widespread as a strategic crop in other Tanzanian regions, Dodoma can carve a niche. There is also a significant existing domestic market, with many apples currently being imported. “Even if locally grown apples lead to a slight price decrease, it will still be a good price for the farmer,” the RC explained.
- Proven Viability: Successful trials, including on a private farm where trees bore significant fruit within a year, have demonstrated the crop’s suitability for Dodoma’s conditions. “The apples we tasted are very sweet, even better than those from other areas,” Senyamule enthused.
The implementation plan is comprehensive:
- Household Adoption: The initial phase will encourage every household to plant at least one apple tree, with the number expected to increase annually as farmers witness the benefits.
- Demonstration Farms: Each council will establish a “shamba darasa” (demonstration farm) of at least one hectare, equivalent to about 450 seedlings. These will serve as learning centers and trial plots. Seedlings are anticipated to be available for purchase in July and December.
- Pilot Farmer Program: Each council will identify at least 100 farmers, preferably in close proximity to each other (e.g., within the same village or street), to receive one or two seedlings this year as part of an initial trial phase.
- Specialized Training: Agricultural extension officers will be specially selected and trained for up to a week on all aspects of apple cultivation – from digging planting holes to tree maintenance – to ensure farmers receive expert guidance for optimal yields.
“We have come away from our site visits highly motivated,” said RC Senyamule. “Our ideas can indeed bring about an economic revolution for the people of Dodoma, especially at the individual household level.”
The regional leadership has outlined four key resolutions:
- Apples will be officially recognized as a strategic crop for Dodoma.
- Implementation will commence this year.
- Every council will establish a demonstration farm.
- At least 100 individual farmers per council will participate in initial trials.
Looking ahead, RC Senyamule envisions a prosperous Dodoma. “We see a Dodoma in five to ten years where people are happy, with a strong economy. We aim to be part of producing these fruits, which are largely imported, and we aspire for Dodoma to not only supply the domestic market but also to establish industries for juice production, drying apples, and eventually exporting to earn foreign currency.”
“We have been saying, somewhat jokingly, that poverty in Dodoma must end,” she concluded. “Through this apple initiative, alongside other existing efforts, we see a significant contribution to eradicating poverty among the people of Dodoma and making Dodoma a true pride of Tanzania.”