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Mbarali Estates

Mbarali Estates

Mbarali Estates is the biggest asset and sector of Highland Estates Limited. It is primarily a rice irrigation farm, but other aspects of the project include a water bottling factory, dairy farm, poultry farm, a fishery and fruits and vegetable plantations.


Rice

The Usangu plains have excellent climate with fertile soils and abundant water. It is located on the East African Rift Valley, which attributes to its flat land, making it perfect for rice irrigation farming. Its diverse agro-climatic conditions translate into cultivating crops suitable for different agroeconomic conditions. Highland Estates Limited owns a 15,000 acre farm, of which 8,500 is strictly cultivated for rice.

A 27 kilometer irrigation canal is channeled from the Mbarali River and is the main source of water for all the irrigation schemes on the farm. A hydroelectric dam was constructed to produce electricity specifically for the farm and is part of the farm’s assets. Highland Estates Limited also uses the canal as one of its many community outreach programs, where we supply water to the neighbouring villages and institutions.

The company owns a state of the art rice milling machine on the farm, which is used for all company millings, as well as giving access to the locals for their personal milling.

The Mbarali rice estate has an annual output of between 12,000 and 15,000 tons of rice, which plays a huge part in feeding the Tanzanian people and the economy.

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Dairy and Poultry Farms

The dairy unit of the Mbarali Estates is still in early stage, but all foundations have been laid to insure that is a successful project. The infrastructure is in place, with about 500 cattle for milk, which supply the neighbouring vilages. By the year 2018, we hope to have established ourselves as the main source of all dairy product in the region.

Our poultry is a fully functioning poultry farm. It si fully equipped with chicken coops, incubators and a hatchery. We supply have about 2500 eggs layers, to which we supply the neighbouring community with eggs. We also have about 3000 broilers that are also sold in the nearby villages. By the year 2022, we expect to invest further in a slaughterhouse and packaging machine so we can sell our chickens through out the country.

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Fishery

Large scale fish farms are rare in Tanzania but with our ownership of a large water canal, it enables us to run a large fishery. At Mbarali Estates , we have refurbished existing fishponds, as well as constructing new one. We have 8.50 x 25 meter ponds that are mainly for Tilapia. Catfish are also available. We plan to expand with ore ponds and a variety of fresh water fish, as well as invest in a fish cleaning and packaging plant.

We plan to expand with our ponds and add variety of fresh water fish, as well as invest in a fish cleaning and packaging plant.

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Horticulture

Our main concetration is mangos, oranges, lemons limes,tangerines and papayas. Our plantation consist of 3000 mangoes trees of different origin, 2000 oranges trees,1500 lime trees, 1500 lemon trees, 1500 tangerine trees and 1500 papaya trees, although we have allocated land for further plantantion.

Another upcoming project for Highland Estates Limited is our fruits and vegetable plantations,with land and water available, we see the opportunity to supply the market with high standard of fruits and vegetables.

We also supply the local market with regular household vegetables like cabbage, onions, carrots, beans, and chillies.

Our vision is to expand and add value to our products by manufacturing juice, and other added value products.

 

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Power Station

Highland Estates is owner of a small scale hydroelectric dam and power station. The infrastructure is made possible by the irrigation canal channelled from the Mbarali River, and has two turbines of a capacity of 250 KVA each. The total of 500 KVA is more than adequate in supplying electricity for residents and workers on the estate, as well as powering the mill machine, water factory and all other equipment. Future plans are in place for expansion of the power station in order to harvest more electricity with a vision to supply neighbouring villages and institutions, as it is our obligation to give back to the community. This will also relieve some burden on our national electricity company.

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Aerodrome

Of the many facilities and infrastructure at the company’s Mbarali Irrigation Project, Highland Estates Limited also boasts a fully licensed aerodrome.The aerodrome is rec- ognised and licensed under the Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority, and is located in the Urunda Village of Mbarali District, Mbeya Region, Coordinates 08° 39’ 23” S 034° 16’ 23” E.

The facility has a 1.2 km runway, a hanger that can accommodate two Caravan planes, fire emergency services as well as fuel supply upon early request. Together with catering to the transportation of the company’s directors the aerodrome is also used to accommodate crop sprayers that are required on a yearly basis, and is also available for public use on request.

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