By Lake Zone Watch writer
Mara region yesterday recorded a milestone in coffee farming following the inauguration of a processing factory owned by the region’s Farmers’ Co-operative Union (WAMACU).
Officiating at the inaugural ceremony of the coffee processing plant, Mara Regional Commissioner, Said Mohamed Mtanda, was short of words, only heaping praise on WAMACU for a job well done to resuscitate the coffee industry in the region.
“I’ve seen the management (of WAMACU) has embarked on the right direction for launching a factory with state-of-the-art machinery,” Mtanda said when addressing the 14th WAMACU Annual General Meeting after opening the factory in Tarime yesterday.
“I’ve inspected the factory; it’s too good. You should continue to add more machines depending on the demand,” he added.
The Regional Commissioner also praised the Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank for extending a loan to WAMACU in running its activities to benefit the farmers.
Speaking at the same occasion, WAMACU General Manager Samwel Gisiboye said the regional cooperative union was a union of 46 Primary Cooperative Societies (AMCOS) engaged in coffee and tobacco farming in Tarime, Serengeti, Butiama, Rorya and Buchosa districts.
The WAMACU Board now brags of enviable achievements since it came to power two years ago to lead the once sleeping cooperative union to greater heights.