Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute

Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) has embarked on researching new planting spacing to various crops as means to enhance agricultural Productivity so as farmers would get benefit on it.

This comes at a time when Tanzania like elsewhere in the world is experiencing climate change that negatively affect Agricultural sector. 

Speaking during TARI Hombolo day held over the weekend, Manager of TARI Hombolo Centre, Dr. Joel Meliyo urged farmers to adopt technologies devolved by TARI, an Institution with a national mandate to conduct Agricultural research.

During TARI Hombolo Day that was designed to train farmer practically on modern agricultural practices. The event was attended by three hundred farmers who were trained on good agricultural practices.

Speaking about the merits of seeds “Macia” and “Record” developed by TARI, Centre Coordinator for Research and Innovation (CCRI) at TARI Hombolo Dr. Eliud Kongola said the seeds are high yielding  and tolerant to drough and diseases.

Moreover Dr. Kongola stated that the centre is currently undertaking research to investigate appropriate planting spacing for more Productive farming at the current state where the world experience climate change that directly affect Agricultural productivity. 

Dr. Kongola further said that the current spacing of 75 by 30 centimeter is no longer appropriate given changing of biotic and abiotic factors.  

Therefore, researching for new planting spacing goes hand in hand with undertaking economic analysis and determination of appropriate fertilizers recommendations for use by farmers in improving farm productivity and profitability.