In a significant stride towards bolstering the agricultural sector and fostering economic growth, the Tanzanian government has announced the establishment of a new University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) campus in Lindi Region. This initiative is aimed at nurturing a new generation of highly skilled professionals in agriculture, agricultural research, and agribusiness, with the ultimate goal of boosting crop production, creating employment opportunities for young people, and strengthening the national economy.
The project is part of the practical implementation of the National Development Vision 2050, which emphasizes the importance of building citizens’ intellectual capacity, creativity, and analytical skills to address development challenges and enhance expertise across various sectors. During the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the new campus, Prime Minister Dr. Mwigulu Nchemba underscored the government’s strong commitment to using higher education as a key driver of economic and social transformation.
Dr. Nchemba highlighted that the sixth phase government has prioritized reforms in the agricultural sector, including a substantial increase in the agriculture budget from approximately 200 billion/- to over 1.2 trillion/- between 2020 and 2025. This significant budgetary allocation has created a growing demand for skilled professionals and is expected to drive major transformations in the sector, which cannot be achieved without quality education, in-depth research, and the application of modern technology.
The Prime Minister emphasized that agriculture, in its broad sense, remains a fundamental sector for economic growth, poverty reduction, and job creation, particularly for young people. He directed UDSM, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, to strengthen partnerships with the private sector, agricultural research institutions, and local government authorities. This collaboration aims to ensure that research outputs and knowledge generated at the university are translated into economic productivity and social development.
Furthermore, Dr. Nchemba called for the effective use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and modern teaching and learning systems, alongside strong resource management, to make the campus sustainable and internationally competitive. He urged the ministry and development partners to work together to ensure the project is completed on time and to the required standards, directing the contractor to complete the construction within ten months.
The Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Adolf Mkenda, described the establishment of the UDSM campus in Lindi as a historic milestone for the Southern Zone regions. He noted that the project is part of the Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) program, being implemented in nearly all regions of the country, with a total of 47 construction sites nationwide.
UDSM Chancellor and former President, Dr. Jakaya Kikwete, expressed his appreciation to the Lindi regional leadership for allocating land for the construction of the campus in Ruangwa District. He also called on the government to support the development of essential infrastructure, including roads, staff housing, libraries, and cafeterias.
The new campus in Lindi is expected to bring higher education services closer to the people of the southern regions while promoting education, research, and innovation in agriculture, the backbone of the national economy. This investment is poised to significantly strengthen the sector through modern research, technology, and practical solutions to challenges faced by farmers, ultimately contributing to the nation’s economic and social development.