By Christina Haule , The Guardian

THE Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has procured modern equipment worth $65,000 (173m/-) to enhance sustainable rice production in the country.

Implemented in partnership with the government of Republic of Korea, this is part of capacity development and experience sharing for rice value chain through the South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) project which began in 2020 and is scheduled for completion by December this year.

Diomedes Kalisa, SSTC project coordinator, said that $15,000 (40m/-) of the total amount has been used to acquire agricultural equipment, land levelling tools, technical planting and harvesting equipment.

Speaking at the weekend here, Kalisa said that the tools are designed to help farmers level their fields and conduct planting and harvesting more professionally to tackle some agricultural challenges, including rice losses during harvesting.

He said that unlevelled fields hinder effective water distribution, particularly in sloped areas, and contribute to crop losses due to uneven plant heights during harvesting.

“Further purchases of over seven additional pieces of equipment valued at $40,000 (106m/-) will be made and delivered before project completion. We collaborate with Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) to ensure that the expertise gained from various training reaches specialists who will then pass it on to farmers and agriculture officers at village level for sustainable agriculture through technology to uplift the sector across Tanzania,” Kalisa said.

Kulwa Furahisha, TARI-Ifakara Centre manager, emphasised the importance of promoting effective agricultural practices for rice to boost productivity.

He said that using a rental system for agricultural tools help farmers access the tools to improve rice production efficiency.

Furahisha also mentioned that using plant protectants instead of chemicals, cultivating rice on raised beds and employing soil spreading equipment will help reduce water usage and address the challenges posed by high water consumption and climate change impacts.

Jabir Makame, Gairo District Commissioner, said that rice is Tanzania’s second most consumed food crop after maize, with Morogoro Region being among the major producers, hence needing adequate education to advance production.

 He identified low productivity as a major issue, with large cultivation areas yielding minimal outputs due to poor farming practices and limited use of technology.

Makame said that training aims to build the capacity of experts to train farmers on how to increase the use of modern technology in rice farming, allowing them to cultivate smaller areas but achieve higher yields and efficiency in the rice subsector.

Lena Sanga, Mbarali District Agriculture Officer, thanked FAO and TARI for the valuable training, which she said will significantly benefit farmers.

She committed to sharing the knowledge to improve the use of agricultural tools and enhance rice production in the country.

he project is implemented in Tanzania, Ivory Coast, and the Philippines, with activities in Tanzania based in Dakawa and Ifakara areas of Morogoro Region.

Published Date: August 19, 2024