CCM presidential candidate Samia Suluhu Hassan yesterday promised to transform Rungwe District in Mbeya Region into a hub for avocado processing and to revive struggling tea estates, assuring farmers of stronger markets, value addition, and debt settling.

At a campaign rally in Tukuyu, she acknowledged that challenges in the global avocado market have left Rungwe farmers facing losses, pledging that the government would provide cushioning support.

She cited plans to build cold storage facilities nationwide, including two in Rungwe, to preserve produce, with the centres being able to store avocados for up to three months, enabling farmers to wait for better prices turns instead of having to sell at a loss.

Rungwe would be designated an agricultural zone with new avocado processing facilities to promote value addition and reduce post-harvest losses, the candidate affirmed, noting that to boost production, one million avocado seedlings would be distributed.

This effort will be accompanied by free copper sulphate fertiliser and other essential inputs, while agricultural extension officers’ conduct soil testing to ensure farmers use seedlings and fertilisers suitable for their land, he said.

The candidate was upset about two investors—Watco Tea and Mohamed Enterprises—for failing to honour agreements to establish factories and expand tea farms in the district, while the firms  had accumulated debts to farmers and factory workers, putting livelihoods at risk.

“We have directed that these investors settle their debts rapidly before the government takes over the farms,” she stated, insisting that soon farmers and workers will be paid, thus restoring confidence in the sector and attract reliable private investors.

The government has worked to attract private-sector investment in agriculture thus these setbacks would not derail progress. “If re-elected, I will work tirelessly to complete what we started and launch further projects,” she stated.

She pointed at the broader rural development agenda, hinting at plans to stimulate growth in districts like Rungwe, with ongoing investments in roads, health centres, schools and water projects across the district.

Rungwe parliamentary aspirants echoed the call for stronger support to farmers, citing last year’s avocado market collapse which left many farmers with losses, thus the need for reliable international buyers. They also appealed for urgent intervention in the tea sector, where farmers are owed 1.18bn/-.

Lutengano George, the Busokelo constituency candidate, said that four new primary and four secondary schools had been built in the past few years, while major infrastructure works are underway. These include the 53-kilometre Katumba–Lupaso–Tukuyu road, the Mbaka–Kibanja stretch and Nsanga Bridge, are lined up for construction.

Rungwe has also seen 11 health centres built while Kyela has built five, meanwhile as works on the district hospital, billed at 3.5bn/- are ongoing, alongside six more health centres and seven dispensaries. In addition, 20 water projects valued at 22.5bn/- are underway to expand access to clean water, he stated.

Prof Palamagamba Kabudi, senior cabinet minister accompanying the president on the campaign trail while contesting for Kilosa, highlighted achievements in the health sector, noting that within four years, 1,000 health centres had been built—far exceeding previous achievements.

Tourism opportunities also abound, with Rungwe and neighbouring Makete in Njombe Region being are rich in natural scenery that could attract domestic and international visitors if properly promoted, he added.