Dodoma — TANZANIANS have been challenged to strive to add value to their agricultural produce and take advantage of thriving ready markets in neighbouring countries.

The challenge has been given by the Managing Director of Private Agricultural Sector Support Trust (PASS), Mr Iddy Lujina, when talking to journalists at the on-going agriculture exhibition, popularly known as Nanenane in Dodoma over the weekend. Mr Lujina said Tanzania is blessed with huge arable land and if farmers use it properly and add value to their produce before selling them, could contribute in fighting poverty and development of the country at large.

"Neighbouring countries depend on us for food," he said, adding that this is an opportunity to tape and that people should not sell raw products but processed products for more profits. He said PASS is ready to help farmers acquire necessary equipment to process their livestock and agricultural produce so as to develop themselves and the country's crucial sector.

"We appeal for more people to visit us and know how they can benefit," he said.Commenting on the ongoing exhibition, Mr Lujina advised the responsible authorities to build permanent infrastructure at Nzuguni grounds as a way of improving measures. He explained that many people now know about PASS, citing a huge number of people visiting their booth as his testimony.

He said this year's exhibition saw PASS taking part in three regions of Morogoro, Dodoma and Mbeya to make sure that they reach many people. The plan is to add Arusha and Mwanza regions in the list for the next year's Nanenane shows. According to Mr Lujina, PASS will continue supporting the agriculture sector in the country by helping farmers accessing loans, markets and agricultural tools.