Cotton firm trains farmers how to improve production

COTTON and textile development programme (CTDP) is
promoting twenty high performing farmers to be village-
based agro dealers in charge of quality input service
providers.
CTDP input Market Manager, Ms Lillian Magak said here
over the week-end that the dealers have been trained by
experts from the Arusha-based Tropical Pesticides
Research Institute (TPRI) to ensure that they buy seeds on
time, and from reliable sources.
"TPRI taught village based experts on how to identify
inputs, improved seeds and fertilizer that are registered for
the use in Tanzania, how to use them, when and how to mix
it and both positive negative effects on environment ," said
Ms Magak.
Due to low yields from different crops, he said, these
village-based agro dealers are expected to be ambassadors
and trainers of farmers in their respective districts, using
conservation agriculture practices among cotton and other
farmers including a range of best practices for cotton and
other crops.
The skills imparted on farmers will also create farmers'
access inputs, necessary to adopt best practices and
promote contract farming and other farming business
models where contract faming is not possible. The
knowledge will also enable farmers to access additional
quality inputs improved seeds and fertilizer.
The objective of the training is to impart 62 farmers from
both Tanzania Gatsby Trust (TGT) and other farmers on
Village based agro dealers.
Ms Magak noted that they taught on how to handle, sell the
differences between agro inputs usage and safety handling
and disposal of empty container while at the same time the
effects of inputs on the environment effects of these inputs.
She said that the main objective of the training for the
village based agro dealers is to educate them, link them at
the agro dealers and also make the inputs including
improved seeds at the doorstep of the farmers.
Out of these 62 farmers, 28 were high performing farmers
from 14 districts of Geita, Biharamulo, Kibondo, Nzega,
Maswa, Meatu, Bunda, Bariadi, Busega, Itilima, Shinyanga,
Kwimba, Busega, Kakonko and Musoma graduated as
Village based agro dealers.
Akisa James a best cotton farmer in Bunda district in Mara
region said that the training has helped a lot to the Farmers
as they have become village based agro dealers and
pesticides experts.
She said that they are now confident in applying pesticides,
fertilizer and seeds, something at the first place was difficult
as the challenge was the usage of pesticides, fertilizer and
seeds.
Ms Akisa said further that the existing challenge that has
led to conflict between government and cotton farmers is
the effective usage of pesticides, fertilizer, manure and
seeds.
Mwanza Region Agriculture Officer Mr Philipo Mkama who
was the guest of honour said that the training was of
paramount importance as imparting effective usage of
pesticides, fertilizer and seeds are a revolution to the
farmers, insisting graduates to implement what they
acquired from the training in their respective places.
TPRI training coordinator, Mr Habibu Mkalanga said that to
curb the rampant problem, there should be a well defined
and effective inspectorate services with well training
equipments and fund for inspectors.