Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute

Farmers in the Karatu District council have expressed opinion to their fellow farmers not to underestimate agriculture activities but to have the urge to learn more in order to increase production.

The opinion was given early yesterday by the farmers of Upperkitete village, Mbulumbulu ward, Karatu district in the celebration of Farmer's field day, which was held under the sponsorship of the Tanzania Food Systems Resilience Program (TFSRP) in collaboration with the AVISA project which is implemented by the Syngenta Foundation.

Michael Sulle, a farmer from Upperkitete village said, "Many farmers look down on agriculture sector and see it as an additional issue. I advise them to attend meetings or conferences so that they can learn more. This will help them increase efficiency in production".

In addition, Sulle has asked the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) to continue providing education to farmers on good agriculture practices, especially early before agricultural season so that farmers can be reminded about the best agricultural practices.

Restituta Cyprian a farmer from Upperkitete village added that the farmers who had the opportunity to acquire the training on good agricultural practices will become ambassadors to educate their fellow farmers who did not attend the farmer's field day celebration as those who attended were able to learn about the principles of good beans and mungbeans cultivation, soil fertility and proper use of pesticides especially the protective clothing.

Furthere more, Obald Joseph a farmer from Upperkitete village has urged his fellow farmers to be close to the agricultural extension officers so that they can learn about good bean and mungbeans seeds.

On his side, the District Agriculture and Livestock Officer of the Karatu District Council Waida Sulle has said that farmers are used to practice traditional farming while directing their enthusiasm in other development activities such as health and education services because they know that if they do not motivate, they will incur the costs of contributing to those services.

"We agricultural officials will continue to promote agriculture in order to change the attitudes of farmers and I will appeal to my fellow experts that it is possible that there are farmers who do not receive information but there are others who, when they hear advertisements about agricultural services such as various subsidies, ignore them and wait to complain later, so we should not tire of fulfilling our responsibilities", emphasized Waida.

The Coordinator of the AVISA project implemented by the Syngenta Foundation Dr. Papias Binagwa has said in collaboration with the Tanzania Food Systems Resilience Program (TFSRP) they have enabled the celebration of the Farmer's field Day which brought together 150 farmers from Mbulumbulu ward in Karatu District.

Dr. Binagwa has explained that the celebration has been held in the fields so that farmers can learn in practical various technologies, including the use of the good beans and mungbean seeds, the best agricultural activities of beans and mungbeans based on spacing and the correct use of fertilizers, they have also learned about proper clothing to protect themself from pesticides.