Posted on March, 14, 2018 at 10:03 am
Tanzania has been said to produce the best quality rice compared to other countries in East and Central Africa.
Agricultural experts from Mozambique who are in the country visiting the lower Moshi irrigation scheme say Tanzania cultivates high quality rice compared to its sister countries of Mozambique, Rwanda, Kenya and Burundi.
The team of experts is on a fact finding mission in the country with special focus on the rice growing areas of Moshi irrigation scheme and Lekitatu irrigation scheme in Meru Council in Arusha where rice is extensively grown.
The group’s team leader Jaime Gado says the visit was intended to share experience about rice farming in Tanzania as well as Mozambique while sharing best practices.
While praising Tanzania for its quality rice, the team cited poor infrastructure and lack of modern farming techniques as some of the challenges that if sorted will be able to make rice farmers in Tanzania improve on their yields.
They however hailed the rice farmers’ efforts saying despite these challenges, they have sustainably been able to produce quality rice.
“These farmers face a lot of challenges but still they produce the best rice in Africa…authorities responsible should strive to ensure reliable markets for their produce as well as invest in more advanced agricultural tools.” Said Gado.
He applauded the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Ministry of agriculture for its efforts to improve rice cultivation and value addition to the rice product through the project for Supporting Rice Industry Development in Tanzania (TANRICE2).
TANRICE2 has been conducting various agricultural trainings all over the country including Zanzibar. The project conducted trainings on rice cultivation technologies in both irrigated and rain-fed conditions.
Source: IPP Media