Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute

TARI assured to train farmers on sustainable rice mechanization

The Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) has expressed its readiness to train farmers on sustainable mechanization application of modern tools in rice farming in order to boost productivity and reduce drudgery along the rice value chain.

This was said by the TARI Director General Dr. Thomas Bwana at the closing ceremony following the one-week long rice mechanization training workshop jointly organized by TARI and Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), held in Morogoro Region.

Dr. Bwana reiterated TARI’s commitment towards reaching out to farmers and extension officers countrywide with the latest farming technologies to address challenges while engaging in agricultural activities.

During the closing ceremony, Dr. Bwana received modern equipment donated by Republic of Korea through the FAO. The equipment donated included direct seeder machine, farm levelling machines and rice weeder/cutter which will assist TARI Researchers to train farmers on mechanization application in rice farming along the value chain.

In his keynote address on behalf of FAO representative in Tanzania, Mr. Diomedes Kalisa said the aim is to improve sustainable mechanization that will make easy rice farming activities by using less human power while rice productivity increases and ultimately encourage women and youth to engage in rice farming activities.

The workshop is one of the key components in the activities under the project of capacity development and experience sharing for rice value chains through South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) which extends to Tanzania, Cote d’Ivoire and Philippines and is funded by the government of Korea and implemented by TARI in Tanzania.

The project focuses on dissemination of best practices from Philippines to Cote D’ voire and Tanzania, which foster regional collaboration and knowledge exchange for improved rice value chains and is facilitated through FAO’s support and expertise.

The training brought together 46 participants including farmers, machinery owners and machinery operators from Mbarali District in Mbeya, Kilombero and Mvomero Districts in Morogoro region to capacitate them with knowledge and skills on the proper utilization of agricultural mechanization and innovations.