Drilling for sustained water supply, a move towards the success of Kilimo Kwanza

Mr. Henry Hamila,the Managing Director of Make Engineering and Water Works Ltd.

INITIATIVES which have been adopted by the Tanzania government towards ensuring an effective implementation of the program of the “Kilimo Kwanza” in the country may hit a snag if proper strategic plans to run with the programs are not put in place. Despite of the government’s efforts, there are some important points which have to be taken into account in order to make it successful. The Managing Director of a locally registered water drilling company, popularly known as Make Engineering and Water Works Ltd, Mr Henry Hamilla finds a solution to many problems facing the sector and ways of solving them as he explains in an exclusive interview.

Why should Tanzania adopt the concept of a drilling water technology to promote Kilimo Kwanza?

Water is an essential commodity for every kind of life, and drilled water is important towards enhancing Kilimo Kwanza in Tanzania. Water is an essential commodity for the growth of a plant, and in this case it’s worthwhile to support agricultural activities. Water is used for irrigation. Agricultural experts have noticed that, the mere supply of the agricultural implements and machineries such as tractors is not only a solution to end the problem of agriculture in the country. Therefore water must be included in this agenda.

What could be your suggestion on the best ways which, if followed would lead to the succession of Kilimo Kwanza in the country?

First research should be conducted mostly in areas which are suitable for cultivation of all types of crops such as food crops, commercial crops and or subsistence crops. Apart from good arable land, another area which has to be researched in order to ensure the sustainability of the program, is the availability of water through various water sources such as lakes, rivers, dams and boreholes. Tanzania is a vast country with large open spaces and farmers who are the main stakeholders have an ample opportunity to make use of this land for every kind of food production. Secondly, the success of Kilimo Kwanza would be attained if good governance is properly set coupled by the most directives on the good policies. People are also important to follow the policies aimed at achieving the goals. In this case, small scale farmers in the country must be given land on which to conduct farming.

There are some important basic necessities which if followed by small scale farmers, would make the above notion more successful. What is your comment on this?

As far as small scale farmers are concerned, they must be given credit facilities such as loans from various financial institutions in the country. Loan would empower them into buying land and other basic necessities like agricultural implements. Incentive training is also important to be given to farmers. Through education they would be in a position to know various things of which they are required to know about agriculture in particular. They would learn how to utilize the resources available economically. Apart from training, the provision of tractors is also useful as they might modernize agriculture into having big estate farms.
In Tanzania today, most farmers uses hand hoe, the technology which is outdated, and since these have been replaced by sophisticated agricultural machineries such as Power Tillers and big tractors, training on the best use of these machines must be provided to the farmers..

What do you say is an approach for investors in promotion of Kilimo Kwanza?

Investors are people who invests their money in a progressive development projects. As for Kilimo Kwanza, investors must look at the suitable land and which the government sees it to be fit, an arable land for cultivation of any types of crops, be it commercial or subsistence. Before using it, the government must conduct a research on the area to see if its proximity is near to water sources such like rivers, lakes, dams. After having established such a situation, the government must set rules and policies which have to be followed and which would prevent the water pollution around so as to get away with undesirable diseases that might arise as a result. There must be a policy to govern the use of water resources and these should be made known to the prospective investors. Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) must create a conducive environment for these investors in order to attract them more.

Apart from land, what any other things are to be considered for Kilimo Kwanza?

When talking of Kilimo Kwanza, sources of water must be considered most. This is applied in most areas which receives a low rainfall density per year. Sources of water should be included while addressing the issue to the general public particularly key stakeholders. The government should look at the main effects likely to occur to a particular water source which is to be used for the purpose of watering the land under cultivation. An example of river flowing waters likely to cause pollution, these are such considerations to be put into account and what precautions they should be taken in order to prevent such pollution from occurring. If it is a dam water and any other water source including drilling water sources.
Unlike surface water supplies, drilling water is essential to boost the Kilimo Kwanza as there are some parts of the country which still depends largely on seasonal rains, while there are some which do not have water at all, therefore the availability of drilled water in boreholes is essential too.
Large areas, especially in reserve settlements are remotely located and far from urban centers. It’s from these regions whereby the greater percentage of the country’s population lives and most of whom entirely depends on agricultural activities.

What can you say about individual participation in Kilimo Kwanza?

Although everyone in the country is now aware of the progresses undertaken so far and which have been initiated by the government towards ensuring an effective implementation of Kilimo Kwanza, the individual participation in the program is an important aspect for the national development. In order to make their agricultural activities more sustainable, coupled with the practice of the water irrigation schemes wherever there is low rainfall distribution levels, agricultural experts have seen the need to construct boreholes for irrigation, this is a reliable approach in order to cater for the need of water scarcity. From this point of view, It’s therefore imperative to see that water is given the first priority in the manifestation of the Kilimo Kwanza program, and just like any other initiatives, boreholes are more appropriate to cater for the need in this case.
Since most parts of the country especially in rural areas are not well distributed by rainy water, an additional knowledge to innovate other means such as having boreholes is required to supplement water for irrigation in those areas. It is therefore important to note that, for these people to survive, they have to boost their agricultural activities as boreholes are alternative source. But water is essential for irrigation in order to succeed. Because of their geographical locations, drilling water is the solution to make a successful implementation of the Kilimo Kwanza as water would be made available basically for irrigation.

Is the integration of private sector companies essential to minimize any loss?

This is absolutely correct, as the government’s integration with private sector companies such as those which deals with the water drilling activities is one way to ensure an economic gain for the participation of private sector companies contributes a lot to the development of the country’s economy. Drilling companies owned by individuals, private institutions and civil societies must be associated into boosting up the Kilimo Kwanza by way of participating in the construction of boreholes. However, the government must take a keen interest to ensure the exercise yields more fruit into achieving the targeted goals.