Singida — SINGIDA regional per capita income has increased by 19.6 per cent between year 2005 and 2009; it has been learnt.

Singida Regional Commissioner (RC), Dr Parseko Kone disclosed the news here on Monday when presenting a report on the implementation of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Manifesto for the region in seven years (2005 - 2012).

Dr Kone explained that in 2005 the region's per capita income was 292,778m/- while in 2009 the per capita went up to 497,361m/-. While there was a considerable increase in the per capita, the regional per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at the current basic prices also increased by 14.8 per cent during the period under review.

The same trend, he said, was also evident at the internal revenue collections for the three district councils and one Municipal council in the region. He said, the internal revenue collections increased from 382.4m/- during financial year 2005/06 to 3.4bn/- in 2011/2012.

"The annual budget for our region approved by the Parliament also increased tremendously from 18.5bn/- during fiscal year 2005/2006 to 96bn/- in 2011/2012", he said. According to Dr Kone, the immense achievement was attributed mainly to the improved economic status of the region and the increased development activities carried out during the period.

For example, he said, the cultivation of both food and cash crops was given a special priority resulting in an abundant harvest which indeed became a blessing to the region.

He listed some of the cash crops which improved people's economy as sunflower, onions, cotton, simsim and the upcoming honey. The one day meeting was attended by district commissioners (DCs), Heads of departments in the regional secretariat, District Executive Directors (DEDs) and the media.