DAR ES SALAAM, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian authorities on Sunday launched the cultivation of 11,453 hectares of block farms for the youth in the country's central region of Dodoma.
Hussein Bashe, the Minister for Agriculture, the launch of the cultivation of 11,453 hectares of block farms is part of the implementation of a national agricultural program for the youth.
Bashe said the 11,453 hectares of block farms are located in Mlazo and Ndogoe villages in Chamwino district in the Dodoma region.
He said cultivation of the farms will go in tandem with the drilling of dams for irrigating the farms to be done by the National Irrigation Commission in collaboration with the Dodoma Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DUWASA).
Bashe said experts have already tested soil in the identified block farms for the youth to establish suitable crops in the farms.
Anthony Mavunde, the Deputy Minister for Agriculture, told parliament in June the government of Tanzania has allocated 20,000 hectares of land that will be used to engage the youth in agriculture.
The pilot program is intended to reduce unemployment facing most of the youth in the East African nation, said Mavunde.
