Residents of Kibaoni Village in Kibaoni Ward, Katavi region, have requested assistance from the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) to provide them with agricultural education and seeds following the implementation of the Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) Project, which has shown an increase in students and instructors at the Mizengo Pinda Campus in Katavi.

Speaking to SUAMEDIA during an assessment to determine what the residents expect after the project reaches them, Mr. Silas Damalu, a land and homestead owner in the area, stated that he foresees significant relief coming their way as agricultural experts will be coming to work there, and they will benefit from the knowledge provided about farming, unlike the current situation.

Mr. Damalu added that farmers have been obtaining seeds from Zambia but also depend on one seed supplier who cannot cater to everyone’s needs. Therefore, the establishment of the campus and the HEET Project will provide them with relief in terms of advice and education regarding various aspects of agriculture, such as seed planting, beekeeping, and specialized techniques.

Furthermore, the youth in the village mentioned that numerous opportunities will arise during the project’s implementation, even if they don’t pursue formal education. They expressed their enthusiasm to engage in various activities during the Higher Education for Economic Transformation Project.

They also noted that since the establishment of the campus, construction and business activities have accelerated due to the increasing interactions, and this trend is expected to grow further when the Higher Education for Economic Transformation Project is implemented both within and outside the campus.

The Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) Project was launched by the Minister of Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Adolf Mkenda, with the aim of improving education and benefiting 14 universities. The launch took place on September 13, 2022, in Dar es Salaam, and the Mizengo Pinda Campus (SUA) in Katavi has been allocated a budget of eight million US dollars for the implementation of the project.