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National Ranching Company Limited (NARCO) is a parastatal organization established in 1968 under the Company Ordinance. The main activity of NARCO is ranching of beef cattle, goats and sheep, at present NARCO sales on average of 12,250 cattle annually. NARCO ranches were established by a World Bank Loan under the low cost investment strategy that envisaged establishment of basic ranching infrastructure such as dam construction, roads-firebreaks, and other basic livestock structures like dips and cattle handling yards. Little emphasis was put on pasture development, fencing and breeding programme. The company’s future outlook is focusing towards intensive production strategies using modern production technologies. According to the ongoing divestiture programme, NARCO is operating 9 ranches in 7 regions, which together holds a total of 45,000 cattle, 3025 sheep and goats, but have a potential to carry 80,000 to 90,000 cattle. At an off take rate of 22-23% the present herd can supply about 10,000 steers which can produce 1500 tonnes of beef per annum. Kongwa and Ruvu ranches have be retained as potential disease free areas. The rest of the ranches will be sub-divided into core ranches of 20,000 ha each to continue under NARCO management as a modal ranch for the medium commercial ranches to be established. The remaining areas of the ranches including the whole of Usangu and Uvinza ranches have been sub-divided into 4,000 ha units for medium commercial ranching activities. The status of the different ranches and their capacities is as following; Most of the NARCO Ranches needs to be strengthened in terms of basic farm infrastructures and breeding herd so that these ranches can produce quality animals for beef to meet the domestic and external markets demand. Privatization of Ranches – Under NARCO |
