Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute

Some farmers in Bunda District, Mara Region, have praised the technologies introduced by the Kilimo Thabiti project for providing them with accurate weather information. The project focuses on integrating weather information and good agricultural practices (GAPs) for cassava and maize crop production in Bunda DC, Bunda TC, and Butiama district in the Mara region. It also includes the distribution of weather forecasts through short messages (SMS) to farmers, enabling them to align their farming activities with the prevailing weather conditions.

Speaking during the visit of member partners from TARI, the Tanzania Youth Espouse for Gender and Development (TYEGD), Esoko and the Weather Impact organization held recently in Bunda district, farmers said they now work smart just because of accurate weather information sent through their mobile phones.

"Those sms do not mislead, they help us a lot and prepare us psychologically for the coming weather conditions. If I had a plan to dry my crops on sun, and then I got a message that it will rain, I have to postpone drying the crops until it is sunny again. This helps us to avoid loss" said Veronica Muhende, a farmer from Sarawe village in Bunda District.

"I am a garden farmer. There was a time I received a message that it would rain. Two days later it rained. It helped me to know what the weather would be, so I don't irrigate. I can say they help us a lot." Said Hassan Break from Nyangere village who grows onions.

The Kilimo Thabiti Project that kicked off in December 2023 is being implemented in Bunda and Butiama District Councils in Mara Region under the funding of the Fund for Innovation and Development (FID) with the mission of improving livelihood of cassava and maize farmers in the Mara region through tailored agro-weather advisory and training.

At the beginning of the project, 30 citizen scientists were trained on how to take rainfall and soil moisture measurements and they now participate in collecting and disseminating agro-weather information. At present, 2632 farmers(46%F/54%M) have been registered to receive short messages, meanwhile over 900 farmers are eagerly waiting to get registered.

In the project implementation along with other tasks, TARI, through its Ukiriguru center, has been training farmers on good agricultural practices, conducting research, and collecting data on climate change. TYEGD are responsible for working closely with citizen scientists and monitoring, while Esoko is in charge of generating online digital data collection tools and distributing agro-weather advisory SMS to farmers. Weather Impact, is responsible for project coordination and weather forecasting based on online data shared by farmers and from satellites.

Director of research and innovation Dr. Deusdedith Mbanzibwa, who represented TARI’s Director General during the visit, said this technology has more potential as it helps farmers to improve their livelihood, especially in this era of combating the impacts of climate change. "It is my hope implementation of this project will be extended to farmers in other areas”, he said, and emphasizing the farmers to follow what experts and extensionists ask them to do in a particular agro-weather advisory.

Moreover, Mara's regional administrative secretary, Mr. Gerald Kusaya, and Bunda District Commissioner, Dr. Vicent Anney commended the project for introducing relevant technology that will enhance food security and increase income for farmers.