Tanzania Cotton Board Annual Report And Accounts

Annual Report and Accounts for the year ending on 30 th June 2010• Low level of expenditure in research development activities;• Poor infrastructure in particular feeder roads and cotton storage facilities at village level;• Inadequate resources for the TCB to spearhead issues of cotton promotion and development;A number of steps have continued to be taken to alleviate the problems, among them include thefollowing: -• Finalise the introduction of contract farming for cotton, an arrangement which has been pilotedin Musoma and Bunda districts since 2008/09 farming season so that this starts in all cottongrowing areas come season 2011/12.• Continuing with a program that helps in conservation agriculture and development of a strongtextile sector financed by Gatsby Trust Foundation of UK with the eventual intent of increasingproductivity and value addition.• Creating an enabling environment for the basic farmers in preparation of the introduction ofthe contract farming by strengthening their Cotton Growers Association through the CottonDevelopment Trust Fund.A strong political will and support from all players at all levels to meet the challenges facing theindustry are the only vehicles to sail us through.Finally, I would like to thank my fellow Members of the Board of Directors for their invaluable supportand advice towards realization of the Boards assigned objectives during the past year. Many thanksare to TCB Management and Staff who have worked diligently and tirelessly to make it possible forthe Board to accomplish its planned commitments during this period though with limited resources.The Board is grateful to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives for steadyguidance and support to the operations and activities of the TCB. Last but not least, the cooperationoffered by Cotton Ginners, Farmers and other stakeholders in the cotton industry is enormous andhighly valued.Hon. Dr. Festus B. Limbu (MP)CHAIRMAN - BOARD OF DIRECTORS3