Uranium One continues to empower Ruvuma farmers

The support from the Uranium mining firm is part of its efforts to empower Ruvuma communities to meet their food security and farming diversification needs.

The companies provided Mtonya Association of Irrigation Farmers and Pamoja Group of Mfate area in Likuyu village with high-quality seeds of exotic vegetables, which previously had to be purchased outside of the Ruvuma.

The Mtonya Farmers Chairman, Abdallah Bakari Mbanga, said U1 and Mantra enable them to get the seeds locally and also provide expertise. “We also thank the firms for providing assistance in the facilitation of the projects growth which will enable the local community to become economically empowered and more independent,” Mr Mbanga said over the weekend.

The seeds were planted in specially prepared band set aside plot are as in the region. The global uranium mining company and its subsidiary Mantra Tanzania said they would continue to assist local communities in the country as part of its corporate responsibility projects.

The Pamoja Group with the help of U1 managed to plant various fruits, such as water melons, mangoes and oranges as well as indigenous vegetables like African bitter tomatoes, chilies, Chinese cabbage and green peppers.

Mantra Tanzania so far has donated more than 26,000 US dollars (some 60m/-) in the library refurbishment partnership programme with Read International since 2013. The programme has benefited 1,800 secondary students in Namtumbo district.

Fortnight ago, the Russian state nuclear corporation suspended its Mkuju River uranium project inside Selous Game Reserve for at least three years due to depressed uranium market.

SOURCE: DAILY NEWS

• 802