By Anthony Muchoki:
A project to boost small scale farmers production through mixed farming and improved soil fertility Tanzania’s Northern Zone since 2010 has benefitted over 50,000 peasants.
AGRA invested USD794,700 through the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives to improve soil fertility and increase food security and incomes of smallholder farmers in central and northern zones of Tanzania through the enhanced integration of pigeon pea into the maize-based productions system.
According to the Principal Agricultural Research Scientist from Selian Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), Steven Lyimo the project has led to many farmers in the northern zone to know issues related to soil health.
“Stakeholders have even launched Tanzania Soil Health Consortium (TASHCO) thanks to AGRA for supporting soil health initiatives,” he said.
The project has seen intensification of pigeon pea in the intercropping system with maize which has resulted into increased nitrogen fixation beneficial to the maize crop.
Under the project, farmers received training on integrated soil fertility management technologies, including integrating improved maize and pigeonpea intercropping, phosphorus-based fertilizer application and conservation agriculture.
Idd Chungi, a farmer in Arusha says the project has been of great value. “Most of us (farmers) now have doubled cereal production, we don’t talk of hunger anymore,” he said. He attests that from one acre he gets over 20 bags and previously the maximum he would get was 10.
For Chungi, the mixed farming option and use of improved maize varieties have been godsent.
In another far away place, improving crop yields in face of hostile climate change and less areas for farming due to population increase, is a constant headache for Mr Abdala Siali, of Ngerengere village in Morogoro Region, whenever he is preparing for the planting season.
“More than anything else we need good seeds at prices we can afford and good prices for our produce. Sometimes, there are improved seeds to buy, sometimes, they are not there. You can visit several agro dealers, up to Morogoro town, and you don’t get what you want. And when you, get, sometimes, the prices are over the rooftops, you leave it and go to the basic. My saved seeds, though not the best, and cannot be as effective as the new varieties, often saves the day,” he says.
Because only about 10% cultivated area in Tanzania is served by certified seed, the road Mr Siali and millions of other small holder farmers, is a long rough ride out of poverty. The Regional Agricultural Advisor, Mrs Aulalia Minja laments that the cost of farming has become very high and for small farmers many times the resultant income from the efforts is nothing to talk home about.
Talking about improved seeds, she says: “Use of quality seeds counts about 10 per cent countrywide and is very low compared to some other African countries,” she laments. Still Tanzania has made great strides in agri- production, and at the moment as other East African nations suffer hunger, Tanzania is exporting grains to them.
There have been so much confusion around seeds in the recent past, regarding the varieties to adopt or reject such that MVIWATA Chair Mbeya Region, Hawa Kihwele has called for introduction of only varieties that the government can guarantee increased yields and markets. Mwiwata is a national farmer groups’ network. “One of the biggest problem that we face lack of quality seeds for planting. Traders shortchange and because like in Mbeya we have more than seven different kinds of rice varieties, it is easy to confuse farmers.
A farmer who is a member of MVIWATA- Kagera Region Mr Projestas Ishekanyoro, some imported banana varieties have caused great harm to their farms. “There is a certain variety that was introduced some years ago. Those who have introduced it at their farms, all their traditional banana plants died. The new varieties are poisonous to the traditional varieties that are the verdict of many farmers. The region used to be famous for banana production, today it is a pale shadow, he says.
According to Ms Sylvia Mwichuli, AGRA’s Communications and Public Affairs Director AGRA is committed to addressing challenges along the agricultural value chain- covering seeds, soil health, water, markets, and agri- education.
She notes that the answer to future food security lies not only in improving yields and market access but talking challenges along the whole value chain.
Tanzania’s Minister for Agriculture, Food and Cooperatives the Honorable Christopher ChizaAssures that Tanzania’s seed system is working and about 12 public research institutions located in different agro-ecological zones each which apart from other issues is, involved in seed breeding. We also work with the private sectors and the development partners to improve the situation, he notes.
AGRA is one of the development partners in Tanzania that has invested heavily to improve seeds subsector in the country, in the bread basket areas.
“We have been supporting seed companies to produce more locally bred varieties in Tanzania to reduce seeds imports. We have given grants to private seed companies to assist in seed production and we are happy there have been substantial impacts. For Cassava multiplication in Zanzibar the results have been exceptionally good,” she notes.