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MPs warn over using huge chunks of land for Jatropha production
2008-07-24 10:39:06
By Bilal Abdul-Aziz, Dodoma
The law makers have warned the government against leasing huge chunks of fertile land to foreigners and other strategic investors, who want to establish Jatropha plantations for bio-fuel production.
Discussing the budget estimates of the Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives ministry for the 2008/09 financial year, most MPs expressed grave concern over substituting fertile land used for food crops production with Jatropha plants.
``We should not sell our farmers` land haphazardly…we shouldn`t sacrifice the lands easily for Jatropha. They are fertile for growing food crops whose production boosts up the country\'s food security,`` said Hasnain Dewji (Kilwa-South, CCM).
In a landmark contribution that moved MPs on their seats, the legislator also talked of claims that a strategic investor from the Netherlands was in the process to obtain a chunk of fertile land currently under food crop production for setting up a Jatropha plantation.
As a result of that, Dewji said, many small-holders in his constituency had been forced to become cheap labourers in the big-short`s farms for the peanut pay of lass than 2,000/- a day.
``A Holland-based company has obtained a 50-year lease…when they come to the ministry to apply for that land, they should be refused and I would advise that the land should be given back to small-holder farmers,`` he said.
Ibrahim Sanya (Stone Town, CUF) said if it was inevitable that Jatropha plantations be established in the country out of any pressure, strategic investors should be allowed to bring in industries and the related technology, not only growing the plants.
``Foreigners should not be given land to grow Jatropha. Instead, they should put up industries so that our people can grow the plant and sell to them for bio-fuel production,`` he noted.
Said Arfi (Mpanda-Central, Chadema), also expressed deep concern over substituting food crops with Jatropha.
``Over 81,000 hectors in Mpanda have been taken for the purpose of growing Jatropha for bio-fuel`` he said.
The lawmaker said he had been deeply discontented by state-backed moves to take away fertile land from the farmers and give it to investors for growing Jatropha, warning that the country was at the verge of a food crisis.
Antony Diallo (Ilemela, CCM) said if it was necessary that the country join the bandwagon of producing bio-fuels, then, it should do it on a wider scale by encouraging production more of common cereals, which flourish in many parts of the country.
``We can make use of maize or other cereals, not necessarily insist on growing Jatropha, because you can generate bio-fuel from maize too,`` he said.
The House was set to conclude the discussion and endorse the ministry\'s budget yesterday evening.
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