L14 - Example of a Large Scale Agricultural Development

• kilombero plantations in the kilombero valley is located in tanzania, africa
• tanzania is a low income country in east africa, the kilombero valley is a fertile strip of land in tanzania
• the strip is one of the best rainfed sites in eastern africa
• the kilombero valley lies to the south of the capital of dodoma and to the south west of the main city of dar es salaam
• agribusiness describes the range of processes involved in modern food production
• agribusiness involves profitable, large scale farming systems
• agrica is the uk company which manages KPL, and it acquired a 5818 hectare farm in the Kilombero valley
• the farm owned by Kilombero plantations limited was cleared to grow rice crops, processing and storage facilities were built along side it
• tractors, planters and combine harvesters are in use and the company has invested in a biomass plant and has renovated a small hydro - electricity station
• 32,000 tonnes of rice and 4500 tonnes of beans are produced each year
• social advantage:

  • KPL supplied smallholder farmers with training and seeds to help them to improve rice yields, this has improved harvests for over 4000 families
• social advantage:

  • the company employ local people and they focus on younger people who often have difficulties finding employment
• social advantage:

  KPL built 82 houses for families that have been displaced as a result of the new farm, they also constructed school rooms, healthcare facilities, water pipes and new roads for local people
• economic advantage:

  • KPL spends an estimated 700,000 dollars a year on wages and healthcare for locals
• environmental advantage:

  • KPL are contributing towards sustainable energy supplies in the area. their biomass plant has a 500KW capacity and their mini hydro-electricity power station has a 320KW capacity
• social disadvantage:

  the KPL farm covers land that was originally farmed by 230 households. these displaced families were moved from their homes and paid monetary compensation
• economic disadvantage:

  many farmers are now in debt, as it led to farmers borrowing money to pay for new seeds and equipment
• economic disadvantage:

  locals say that the alternative land is less than families originally had and that the cost of renting farmland far exceeds the compensation paid
• environmental disadvantage:

  local farmers claim that chemical run off from the KPL farm pollutes their land, some farmers say their harvest has been ruined, it is bad for the environment
• an example of a sustainable food production is two farmers crisps in herefordshire, UK