FIVE regions are set to build crop loss control centres, Agriculture Minister Hussein Bashe announced yesterday.

Launching a campaign to see crops in the field as wealth, held at Mtanana ward of Kongwa District, Dodoma Region, the minister said the initiative aims to address the chronic problem of crop spoilage after harvesting.

The move is intended to reduce post-harvest losses and strengthen agricultural value chains, as crop losses are a leading cause of farmer income woes across the country, he said.

The five centres will be strategically located in Dodoma, Kigoma, Mbeya, Mtwara and Ruvuma to serve various agricultural zones, where Dodoma centre is already completed and will soon begin wide ranging operations, he stated.

“This centre is the largest of its kind,” he said, noting that it houses a modern processing factory and a well-equipped crop laboratory for testing produce quality, ensuring that farmers get the best value from their harvests.

Each centre will serve surrounding regions, tailored to their crop production particulars and logistical networks, an initiative expected to improve the handling, storage and market readiness of agricultural produce, he stated.

This will help farmers access competitive markets locally and internationally, with the crop centres initiative designed as part of efforts to promote best practices in farming, harvesting and post-harvest management.

Through field visits and demonstrations, instructors in the campaign will engage directly with farmers in different regions, to explain ways to boost productivity and ensure profitability, he stated.

The Mtanana agricultural produce centre is expected to be officially inaugurated on August 8 at the climax of the annual agricultural exhibitions, with President Samia Suluhu Hassan expected to officiate.

“This is more than a warehouse,” the minister asserted, pointing out that the readied facility will include a central market for produce, an internationally accredited laboratory and a factory to help farmers process, package and preserve their crops for sale.

Gerald Mweli, the Agriculture permanent secretary, said that the Mtanana centre will be a game changer for Kongwa District and surrounding areas, promoting inclusive rural development and raising farmer incomes.

The market is expected to become a regional hub, drawing traders and buyers from across the country, he said, noting that by reducing losses and increasing market access, this initiative beefs up efforts to transform agriculture into a powerful engine for economic growth.

The government has committed substantial investment to ensure the centres are well-equipped with storage technology, quality testing facilities and training hubs for extension officers and farmers, he said.

Experts say that agriculture remains the backbone of Tanzania’s economy, employing nearly 65 percent of the population. Experts have long argued that addressing post-harvest losses—which reaches up to 40 percent of all produce for some crops by authoritative accounts - could significantly improve food surpluses and income boost in rural livelihoods, officials affirm.