DAKAR-President Dr.Samia Suluhu Hassan said her Government is determined to give Tanzanian youths access to land ownership as part of a wider plan aimed at promoting youth engagement in agriculture to ensure their economic empowerment.
In support of President Dr.Samia's commitment to agriculture, the African Development Bank (AfDB) announced a package of USD 120 million for the sector, which will focus on four value chains through irrigation and logistics hubs.
As part of the Tanzanian Government's 'Building a Better Tomorrow’ programme, President Dr.Samia said selected youths will be allocated up to 10 acres of land each, which they will end up owning.
The head of state made the remarks during the official opening ceremony of the 2nd Edition of the Dakar Summit on Agriculture and Agribusiness in Senegal, which discussed how to make agriculture more attractive to youth, land access issues, technologies and finance.
President Dr.Samia said Tanzania was currently in the process of recruiting the first batch of youths who will be enrolled in mid-February 2023 for a three-month training programme after which they will be allocated with land.
The innovative Government programme, which focuses on young men and women, has established a Youth Guarantee Scheme and Loan Facility for youth under the Agricultural Input Trust Fund.
President Dr.Samia said Tanzania decided to establish the scheme because many youths lacked access to land and agricultural financing.
Since its adoption in the last six months, ‘Building a Better Tomorrow’ programme has already secured a total of 600,000 hectares and land clearance is ongoing.