Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute

Under Cotton Victoria Project 22- agricultural extension officers from Misungwi, Magu, Sengerema, Kwimba Districts, TCB and TARI Ukiriguru Researchers have received a training on cotton production   held at TARI Ukiriguru from 12 -16, June 2023.

The training was conducted by the Professor Pedro Castro Neto and Prof. António Carlos Fraga from Federal University of Lavras-UFLA (Universidade Federal de Lavras) with the aim of building the capacity to both Extension officers and researchers in the field of cotton production.

Some of the theoretical topics covered were agronomic factors linked to cotton production, Climate factors necessary for increased productivity, fundamental agro-meteorological concepts necessary for cotton production. However, the practical topics were covered too, including the evaluation of morphological descriptors of cotton (cotton varieties grown in Africa and Brazil), evaluation of cotton productivity in the field and mapping of the population and individual cotton plants.

“It has been a great pleasure and honor to be with Professors from Federal University of Lavras -UFLA, for the entire week from 12-16 June, 2023 here at TARI Ukiriguru. We real appreciate their presence at TARI Ukiriguru as has been of great importance not only for the institute but also for the agricultural extension officers from Misungwi, Magu, Sengerema districts and Tanzania Cotton Board (TCB)” said Dr Paul Sabas Saidia (TARI Ukiriguru Center Director) during giving his closing remarks of the training. He also added by insisting to both researchers and extension staffs who had attended the training to make use of all that has been trained so that it increases the cotton production and improve the livelihood of the cotton growing farmers. He lastly welcomed the trainers to UFLA to TARI Ukiriguru.