Posted on March, 24, 2017 at 10:48 am
The major pests that attacked crops were quelea quelea, army worms, rodent and red locust.
The February national food security bulletin issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries stated that quelea quelea outbreak was reported in Mbarali District Council (in Kapunga estate especially in Mwashikamile and Lwanjili wards), Same District Council (in Ndungu Irrigation Scheme especially in Kalemawe, Maore, Ndungu and Kihurio wards) and Moshi District in Lower Moshi and Kahe areas.
The outbreak of army worms was reported in various parts of the country including Lindi Region (in Mtama, Jamhuri and Ng’apa wards), Pwani Region (in Mwateni, Utete, Ngorongoro, and Mhororo wards), Morogoro Region (in Kilombero and Ifakara Districts) and Rukwa (in Nkasi District)
According to the ministry, rodents and locust outbreaks occurred in Iringa and Morogoro regions (Iringa district, Lindi district, Ruangwa, Kilwa, Kilombero, Kilosa, Liwale; while in Morogoro DC and Mvomero.)
Following the outbreak the government intervened by distributing a total of 120 litres of pesticide in Kilombero District and 50 litres in Rufiji District to fight against army worms.
The government also continued to monitor weather conditions on crops, as well as the food situation in all 26 regions for more effective interventions.
The ministry said the government was now sensitising farmers to use drought-tolerant and early maturing varieties. However, farmers were assisted to get seeds at subsidized prices and a few others were provided with free seeds.
The ministry also plans to conduct training sessions on improved crop production, crop diversification as well as marketing in order to increase household incomes, improve market linkages and accessibility through construction of roads, market infrastructures and introduction of regulations for the transport of commodities, it said.
Efforts are underway to construct and rehabilitate drainage systems and irrigation schemes as well as improve agricultural land management to avoid water logging, promote fully-fledged watershed management in order to reduce the associated risks of flooding of the agricultural land through tree planting, land use management plans, riverbank maintenance and construction of dams, according to the ministry.
On food prices, the ministry stated that in the month of February this year the Ilala, Njombe, Dodoma, Songea and Tanga markets had the highest prices of rice ranging from 1,800/- to 1975/- per kg while Kigoma, Arusha, Bukoba and Mpanda markets had the lowest market prices ranging between 1,463/- and 1,325/- per kilogramme.
In Musoma District—Mara Region, Morogoro, Dodoma, Singida and Tabora maize prices were average while Songea, Mbeya and Bukoba the prices were below average.
The lowest maize prices were observed in Bukoba market where a kilo was sold at 789.30/-, Mbeya market 804.38/- per kg and Songea market 896.25/- per kg. Sumbawaga, Temeke, Moshi and Geita had the highest prices for beans ranging from 1,965/- to 2,150/- per kg while Bukoba, Mbeya and Shinyanga had the lowest prices of beans ranging from 1,358/- to 1,571/- per kilogramme.x
Source: IPP Media