Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute

The Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) via Ukiriguru Centre in collaboration with Tanzania Cotton Board (TCB) has conducted a National Technical Committee (NTC) under Cotton Victoria Project supported by Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC). NTC is a technical meeting held at national level in each project implementing countries with members from different institutions. In Tanzania, NTC members are TARI, TCB, Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI), Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), and Local Government Authority (LGA).

The main aim of the NTC,2023 was to pass through a report of the activities implemented in 2022/2023 season and approved by the last NTC meeting 2022 for the sake of getting aware of what were the success and shortfalls. However, the NTC 2023 got the progress report of the cotton project for the last season of 2022/2023. Moreover, the NTC 2023 discussed in detail the recommended activities for the season of 2023/2024 and together agreed the recommended activities to be executed as planned.

Dr. Paul Sabas Saidia (TARI Ukiriguru Centre Director and the National Cotton Coordinator) said that “We are expecting to Extend areas for KTUs (Knowledge Transfer Units) coverage from being in Tabora and Katavi only since 2021 to the other areas in Kigoma, Kagera, Singida and Morogoro, Improve infrastructures like installation of equipment, renovation of ginnery, cold room, seed laboratory and garage ,construction of organo-mineral fertilizer unit and borehole for water services as well as dissemination of new technologies to 10 new cotton growing regions :Kigoma, Singida, Dodoma & Morogoro”. “It is high time now for the Local Government Authorities (LGAs) to work hand in hand with the Cotton Ambassador Hon.Aggrey Mwanri in disseminating the new cotton sowing technology which is 60cmx30cm by using the local available teaching aid” said Samson W. Poneja.

Speaking to the NTC Meeting members and on behalf of the TARI Director General Furaha Mrosso (DRI-TARI HQ) was pleased with the increase of farmers using the new cotton sowing technique (60cmx30cm), an increase of cotton from the previous 300-500 kgs per unit acre up 1200-1800 kgs of cotton using the new spacing. He also added by saying that an Increase of pre basic seed production reaching a target of 20 tones cotton seed≈15.4 tons of delinted cotton seeds is also expected in the season of 2023/2024.