DED advises Kilosa villagers to adopt 'smart agriculture' for more productivity

 

Kilosa District authorities have commended initiatives taken by five nongovernmental organisations to improve agricultural production in the district through ‘climate smart agriculture’.

The organisations are Tanzania Forest Conservation Group (TFCG), National Network of Farmers’ groups in Tanzania (Mviwata), ActionAid Tanzania, Community Forest Conservation Network (Mjumita), and the Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement (TOAM).

Speaking during amedia outreach programme, Kilosa District Executive Director Masalu Gilihe said that there was a need to sustain and duplicate the new system of agriculture to other areas to increase food production.

He said however that it will depend on the availability of funds so that all villages can benefit from the new system. The new methods of farming involve spacing, minimal tillage, use of compost pit, animal manure and remains of crops which are covered on the soil to decompose and increase moisture and soil fertility.

“I urge the villagers through their leaders to make sure that they use the little resources they have to start the new agricultural system. The government is making every possible means to support their efforts,” he said.

The new agricultural system is being piloted in three villages of Kisongwe, Ibingu and Lunenzi in the district. For their part, the villagers said the new farming methods have enabled them to double production and they are now investing in other projects like poultry.

Chairman of Faraja group which has 30 members with demonstration farm at Kisongwe village, Lumbiji ward in the district, Israel Matei said that the training received has also helped them to conserve the environment and natural resources.

For her part, a farmer Leonia Michael said that the effects of climate change especially drought had discouraged many farmers but since they received new farming methods, they were sure of increasing production. “I call upon the farmers from other villages to ensure that they borrow a leaf from our new system of agriculture so that they can get more food,” she said.

For his part, the Chairman of Kisongwe village, Laurian Mkuchu advises the villagers to unite and form associations to demand better prices for their crops.

“We expect production to double this year. This means that we shall need more markets for our crops. In order to control the market prices, we need a strong voice, and we need to form associations,” he said.

The Project Officer, Regina Mathias, from Tanzania Forest Conservation Group urged the farmers to transmit the new methods of farming received to other villagers so as to have a big impact.

Commenting on the project, project agricultural officers, Ernest Jerome from TFCG and Amanzi Amanzi from Mviwata said that many villagers are now adopting the new agricultural system and after realising its benefits.
“We started with very few farmers, but today we have so many groups and each group has 30 members. Many other farmers are still joining on daily basis,” the former said. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

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Wakulima walalamikia Lumbesa, Makokoro

 

Kilosa. Wakulima wa vijiji vya Ibingu na Kisongwe, Kata ya Lumbiji wilayani hapa wamelalamikia kukithiri kwa vitendo vya wafanyabiashara kununua mazao kwa kutumia vipimo visivyokubalika kisheria.

Malalamiko hayo waliyatoa mjini hapa jana kwa nyakati tofauti na kuongeza kuwa licha ya vipimo hivyo, ambavyo ni Lumbesa na Makokoro, kupigwa marufuku, bado vinaendelea.

Walisema wanunuzi hao wamekuwa wakienda katika maeneo ya vijiji hivyo na kutaka kuuziwa mahindi na mpunga kwenye magunia yaliyojazwa kupita uzito wa kawaida wa kilo 100.

Mmoja wa wakulima hao ambaye ni mkazi wa Kijiji cha Kisongwe, Cecilia Simon alisema kuwa ni vyema Serikali ikaingilia kati tatizo hilo ili wafanyabiashara hao wasiendelee kuwanyonya wakulima wakati wanaponunua mazao.

Alisema ununuzi wa mazao hayo kwa kutumia vipimo hivyo hauwanufaishi wakulima ambao wamekuwa wakitumia nguvu kubwa na muda mrefu katika kuzalisha, badala yake huwapa faida wafanyabiashara.

Simon aliitaka Serikali kuwachukulia hatua watakaobainika kukiuka utaratibu na kutumia vipimo hivyo.

“Tunaiomba Serikali iendelee kusimamia na kuwachukulia hatua wafanyabiashara wanaowalaghai wananchi,” alisema Simon.

Mkazi wa Kijiji cha Ibingu, Patrick Machemba aliiomba Serikali na wadau wengine wa maendeleo kuwafundisha mbinu bora za usindikaji wa mazao yao ili wayaongezee thamani.

Mwakilishi wa Mtandao wa Jamii wa Usimamizi wa Misitu Tanzania (Mjumita), Elida Fundi alisema Shirika la Kuhifadhi Misitu ya Asili Tanzania (TFCG) na mtandao huo wanaangalia uwezekano wa kuwapatia wakulima mbinu bora za kilimo.

chanzo:Mwananchi

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Walima maharage Kilosa kunufaika rafiki

 

Kilosa. Wakulima wadogo wa maharage katika kijiji cha Kisongwe Kata ya Lumbiji, Wilaya ya Kilosa wameanza kunufaika mafunzo ya kilimo rafiki ambacho hakitaharibu mazingira na kuwaongezea kipato katika familia.

Wakizungumzia faida wanayotarajia kuipata baada ya kupatiwa elimu ya kilimo rafiki iliyotolewa na Shirika TFCG kupitia mradi wa mabadiliko ya tabianchi,wakulima hao walisema kutokana na elimu hiyo waliyoipata wanatarajia kuendesha kilimo chenye mavuno mengi na chenye kuhifadhi mazingira.

Veronica Solomoni ambaye ni mmoja wa wakulima wa maharage alisema kabla ya elimu hiyo walikuwa wanatumia kilimo cha kuchoma moto kilichokuwa kikiharibu ardhi na kusababisha ukame, na kuiomba Serikali iwajali katika kuwapatia pembejeo za kilimo mapema ili waende sambamba na msimu wa kilimo.

Kwa upande wake Ofisa Mgharibishi wa Mradi wa Mabadiliko ya Tabianchi, kupitia kilimo rafiki, Jackline Tesha na Ofisa Kilimo kutoka Mtandao wa Mjumita, Ernest Jerome walisema mradi unalenga kumsaidia mkulima mdogo kutoka katika kilimo alichonacho na kumfikisha katika kilimo cha faida ili kumkomboa na kumwongezea kipato.

Ofisa kilimo Wilaya ya Kilosa, Jonas Mboya alisema kuna changamoto nyingi wanakutana nazo katika utoaji wa elimu kwa wakulima kwa kuwa wakulima wengi hawana uelewa juu ya kilimo endelevu na kuendelea kutumia kilimo cha uchomaji moto mashamba.

chanzo: Mwananchi

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