CCM presidential candidate, Samia Suluhu Hassan has said pigeon peas can no longer be regarded merely as a food crop but have now become a lucrative cash crop, transforming farmers’ incomes and livelihoods.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Nanyumbu District, Mtwara Region today, Samia highlighted the crop’s growing importance, noting that harvests had increased from 1,130 tonnes to 5,950 tonnes in recent years, generating 10.8bn/- for farmers.

“Pigeon peas are now a source of significant income for farmers. What used to be food for the household is today contributing billions of shillings to rural economies and helping to uplift the dignity of our people,” she said.

She attributed the progress to government investments in subsidised fertiliser, timely access to farm inputs, and irrigation projects that have improved productivity.

Samia assured farmers that her administration would continue to secure international markets for pigeon peas and other crops, while establishing industrial zones for processing produce, including in Nanyumbu, to add more value and create jobs.

Beyond agriculture, she pledged to expand surveyed livestock-keeping blocks from 3.4 million acres to 6 million acres by 2030 to reduce farmer–pastoralist conflicts and improve livestock production.

On infrastructure, she announced that electricity supply in Mtwara will increase through a new transmission line from Ruvuma, while roads and bridges at both tarmac and gravel level will be improved to support trade. She also promised to address persistent human–wildlife conflicts in areas near national parks.

Reviewing her administration’s performance over the past five years,  Samia said achievements in sectors such as agriculture, health, and education had laid a strong foundation for socio-economic transformation.
CCM Secretary General Dr Asha-Rose Migiro urged Nanyumbu residents to come out in large numbers on election day and vote for CCM candidates.