Tanzania and Brazil are finalising the establishment of the regional cotton centre at Ukiriguru in Mwanza Region to improve seedling and train farmers on better farming technology to enhance productivity and quality of cotton. Ukiriguru Agriculture Research Institute is one of the oldest research station and the main cotton research centre that has been assisted by the overseas development agency since 1976. 

The Brazilian Ambassador to Tanzania Mr Francisco  said on Wednesday in Dar Es Salaam at a press briefing on the workshop to share Brazillian experience on conservation agriculture and food security solutions.

"The establishment of the cotton centre is one of the main priority areas of cooperation between the two countries,"he said, adding that the technical team from Brazil will sooner or later arrive in the country to finalize some logistics for the establishment of the centre. Mr Luiz said the deal for the establishment of around 6 million US dollars of the cotton centre is expected to be signed in June next year.

Other countries that will be served by the cotton centre include Kenya and Burundi to begin with and later Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia and South Sudan.