23/05/2011 (IPP Media) - Henry Oranya, District commissioner for Mkuranga in Coast Region, has invited foreigners to invest in palm oil production in Rufiji District as a way of fending off edible oil imports to Tanzania.

Oranya, who is also acting Rufiji District Commissioner, said this during the hand over of a newly built Maternal and Child Health centre to villagers at Nyamatanga village, Ruaruke Ward in Rufiji District.

“We invite foreigners to invest in Rufiji District because presently there are many farmers in this area who are still unaware of the opportunities presented by palm oil production,” he said.

“Through their investment they can transfer knowledge and technology they have to our people as well as establish demonstration farms so that farmers can learn from them,” he said.

If foreign investors would assist in raising the awareness on these opportunities among farmers with low-incomes, their livelihood would change, he said.

“Those eager to invest in Rufiji District are welcome. Rufiji has suitable land that can be used for variety of cash crops including palm oil cultivation,” he said, noting that the district will give support to them so that they meet their intended goals.

He also called on AGO company which has already invested in the area to make sure it provides palm oil seedling to villagers so that they can engage in the farming.

“Besides, make sure you train them how to plant and conserve the crop so that once they go into production they meet the required requirements,” he said.

He said through the farming the villagers can help edible oil processing plants and soap manufacturers who import raw palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia to get raw materials locally.

For his part, AGO board members Dr Hamimu Hongo, said that Africa Green Oils will continue to support the country’s socio-economic development and poverty alleviation initiatives in the villages where it operates.

“Our target would be to create employment opportunities for the local population both in long and short terms,” he said.

At the moment the company is undertaking community development projects in agreement with respect villages that will assist them improve the socio-economic services like education, health and water.

Highlighting on activities that have been done to the communities, district and the nation as whole, he said that over the last three years AGO used a total of 9.3m/- for road improvements in Ruaruke ward and 42m/- to village land use planning.