TANZANIA IS ONE OF THE COUNTRIES WITH LARGEST TREE PLANTATIONS IN AFRICA

 A cross-section of members of tree growers association called UWAMIKI at Kifanya Village in Njombe is weeding their tree seedlings yesterday. The UWAMIKI group has a total number of 82 members and they have planted 187000 seedlings. (PHOTO BY FRIDAY SIMBAYA) 

By Friday Simbaya, Njombe

Tanzania is among the five countries that have the largest tree plantation areas in Africa with South Africa having the largest tree plantations areas in Africa, The SCOOP has disclosed.

According to the Private Forestry Program (PFP) Panda Miti Kibiashara, Director Dr. Maria Tham, Tanzania is among the five countries that have the largest tree plantation areas and in brackets is the number of hectares of plantation areas as per country;  South Africa (1.274,869), Algeria (526,630), Madagascar (320,000),Morocco (198,940) and Tanzania (192,970).

This was disclosed during the capacity building meeting with media held in Njombe region on Wednesday.

She said that wood production is a global business and Tanzania has a competitive advantage including political stability, educated population, land availability, desire to develop and favourable climatic conditions.

She said that the industrial wood demand from plantations are going to increase from present 1.5 million cubic meters to 3.7 million cubic meters by 2025, so there need to improve the practice of tending, harvesting and regenerating of forests (Silviculture) in the country.

“The key demand drivers for wood consumption are economic growth and urbanization together with population growth,” reads part of the REPORT.

She said the program is aimed at increasing rural income in the Southern Highland area, thereby reducing poverty and inequality.

She emphasized that the program will undertake increased rural income through development of sustainable plantation forestry, value addition through the value chain, from quality seeds to quality product as well as income generating activities (IGAs).

Private Forestry Program has imported third generation seeds from Zimbabwe and distributed to service providers are Tanzania Wattles Co. Ltd (TANWAT) and tree growers associations (TGAs) in order to germinate them in their tree seedling nurseries.

She strongly pointed out that this program can only be succeeded through the participatory proper village land use plans (VLUP) approved on community level and land registered on family.

On His part, PFP Extension Manager, George Matiko said this program focuses on tree planting activities accelerate and enhance the quality of the wood processing.
He said that planting trees is a long term investment, the program will encourage  Income Generating Activities (IGAs) that enable farmers to increase income while waiting for the trees to grow and reach harvesting age.

The PFP implementation is done by the Finnish and Tanzanian governments in pilot villages with VLUP and villages with TGAs in the six districts of Iringa, Morogoro and Njombe regions including Ludewa, Makete, Mufindi, Kilolo, Kilombero na Njombe.

The major stakeholders in implementing this program are ministry of natural resources and tourism, Tanzania forest service, district councils, tree growing associations, private enterprises and education institutions.

Tree Growing Incentive Scheme has objective of establishing 15.000 hectares of high quality tree plantations within 4 years. The total budget for the first 4 years is; EURO 19.493.376 Finland and EURO 985.950 Tanzania

CAPTION

A cross-section of members of tree growers association called UWAMIKI at Kifanya Village in Njombe is weeding their tree seedlings yesterday. The UWAMIKI group has a total number of 82 members and they have planted 187000 seedlings. (PHOTO BY FRIDAY SIMBAYA)