Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute

TARI Ifakara Coordinator of Technology Transfer and Partnership Dr. Kulwa Furahisha in collaboration with Coordinator of Research and Innovation Dr. Theodore Kessy on May 25, 2024 they conducted training on Kitalu Mkeka technology in agriculture rice for the staffs and supporting staffs of TARI Ifakara and MATI-Katrin agricultural training college .

Kitalu Mkeka is a technology for growing rice seedlings in soil mixed with manure and distributed shallowly on leveled ground that does not allow the roots to penetrate. These seedlings are ready to be planted within 8 - 14 days after germination

This training aims to provide them with the knowledge and best methods of using this technology to increase the productivity and production of the rice crop.

Kitalu Mkeka technology includes the use of easily available and cheap resources/equipment (for example, wooden frame, water can, nylon sheet or banana leaves, manure or compost etc.) which help to grow rice seedlings in improved nursery before being transferred to the farm. This helps to ensure that the seedlings become healthy and the planting in the field becomes more efficient, thus increasing the yield.

Advantages of the Kitalu Mkeka:

i) It uses small land, 40 square meters is enough for a 1 acre farm

ii) It can be grown closer to home than traditional farm nurseries

iii) It requires fewer seeds and less inputs such as fertilizer and water, thus reducing nursery costs by up to 50%

iv) Separating seedlings before transplanting is easy, thus reducing root damage

v) Facilitates transportation

vi) And, most importantly, it produces healthy and fast-growing seedlings, which produce high yields

Intensive rice cultivation using Kitalu Mkeka technology has many advantages such as reducing seed loss (5 kg of seeds are enough to plant 1 acre), increasing the speed of plant growth, and improving the quality of the harvest.

This training for the staff of TARI Ifakara and MATI-Katrin Agricultural Training College is part of the implementation of the SRI-Tanzania project implemented by TARI Uyole in collaboration with TARI Ifakara and TARI Mikocheni. The training is expected to bring about positive changes in rice production in Tanzania, especially in areas engaged in this agriculture.

In general, these efforts are in line with the goals of TARI and the government in improving the agricultural sector through the use of modern technology and methods that increase resilience against the negative impact of climate change, thus improving the lives of farmers and increasing productivity and food security in Tanzania.