Japão: govt to support irrigation programmes

[FÓRUM AGRICULTURA IRRIGADA]

Japan has pledged to continue supporting training programmes on irrigation engineering, saying it is the only way Tanzania can ensure food security to her people.

One member of the House of councillors of Japan, Yataro Tsuda said irrigation engineering is a profession with future, so training on the field is important.

He said Japan is aware of the importance of irrigation in farming that is why it continues to dish out money in the field.

 

“In this matter, the Arusha Technical College (ATC) is our partner and we will continue to support this endeavors,” Tsuda said this over the weekend in Arusha, when leading a delegation of three members of the House of councillors of Japan who visited the technical college to inspect some of the Japanese funded projects including that of irrigation engineering.

 

Tsuda who is a budget committee member in Japan, said food is important and in order for the government to ensure food availability, it is important to invest in irrigation.

 

Accompanied by his colleagues, members of the Japan House of councillors, Junzo Yamamoto and Michihiro Ishibashi, Tsuda said, “Successful irrigation farming requires some skills, hence for the college to offer irrigation engineering course is recommendable because this is a better way of increasing the number of experts in the area.”

 

Acting Arusha Regional Commissioner, Jowika Kasunga, who is also the Area Commissioner for Monduli, commended the Japanese government for extending support in capacity building on irrigation engineering training programmes.

 

He noted that the supported training programmes at the college will ensure the country availability of enough experts in irrigation technology, which is still in infant stages in Tanzania.

 

Kasunga admitted that Tanzania’s farming sector is under serious threat mostly caused by climate change in most parts of the country.

 

“We are living in a different world whereby rains are unpredictable, the situation pushes us to opt for irrigation farming which has proved to be an important tool in addressing food shortage,” the Monduli DC said.

 

ATC Principal, Dr Richard Masika said his college is training professional irrigation engineers in efforts to address limited number of experts in that area. 

 

“This year, we have released 25 graduates from this cadre and we expect to produce similar number next year. Our interest is to produce competent irrigation engineers,” he said, adding that the training programme is highly supported by Japanese experts.

 

Currently, the college is constructing buildings worth 3.4bn/-, which will serve as different laboratories for irrigation studies including a lab on hydraulics, soil, water quality, computer and land survey.

 

According to Masika, plans are underway to send some teachers to Japan to learn on irrigation engineering technology.

 

“We are in dare needs of laboratory facilities, particularly in this area of irrigation,” the college Head said.

 

The Japanese delegation visited the irrigation demonstration site and the irrigation building sites all located within the college premises.

Foto: http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=52273

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