(Ecofin Agency) - In 2018, Tanzania should harvest 600,000 tons against last year’s 150,000 tons, the managing director of Tanzania Cotton Board (TCB), Marco Mtunga, announced.

According to the official, this positive outlook is mainly based on the development of cotton production in new areas, thecitizen reported.

“Besides the 17 traditional regions, cotton is now grown in new regions of Dodoma, Tanga, Katavi, Morogoro, Coast, and Kilimanjaro”, Mtunga said.

The official also disclosed that this season, the government has disbursed TZS10 billion ($4.4 million) to fight pests.

Let’s note that in the country, cotton production provides jobs to about 500, 000 rural households and it is produced between 400,000 and 500,000 ha.

Espoir Olodo