Mkomazi dam construction nears completion to support 20,000 farmers in Tanga

Construction of the Mkomazi Dam in the Korogwe District of Tanga, Tanzania, has reached 98.7 percent completion.

The project aims to provide irrigation for over 12,500 hectares of land to help local farmers overcome recurring drought conditions. Alex Mwailolo, a project engineer from the National Irrigation Commission, stated that the project has already received 14.9 billion Tanzanian shillings, which covers 80.2 percent of the total cost.

Completed works include the project manager's office, a three-kilometer access road, a 325-meter water dam, and a 3,500-meter canal for the Kwasasu area. The dam is expected to be fully finished by November 4, 2026. Dr. Batilda Buriani, the Tanga Regional Commissioner, noted that the remaining major task is building the canals that distribute water directly to the fields. She warned that delays in this specific stage could postpone when farmers can start using the water.

She instructed local district leaders to begin identifying the 20,000 residents who will benefit and to organize the distribution of farming plots. Local residents, including Kazwika Ramadhan and Silivesta John, expressed that the dam will allow them to grow rice more reliably. They noted that they currently depend on unpredictable rainfall, which often leads to low production and reduced household income.

The dam will have a storage capacity of 37.5 million cubic meters of water to support rice production in the northern region.