Posted on January, 31, 2019 at 08:24 am
YARA Tanzania, Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB) and Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute Uyole (TARI Uyole) yesterday signed an agreement to support development and boost farmers by increasing crop production.
The trio among other issues agreed also to support testing of soil as a step towards stimulating crop production among the farmers. In the agreement signing, YARA was represented by the Country General Manager, William Ngeno, TADB by Director of Credit and Business Development, Augustino Chacha whle TARI Uyole by Dr Tulole Bucheyeki.
Speaking shortly after the signing ceremony, Ngeno described the agreement as a step ahead in transforming the agriculture by empowering smallholder farmers to grow and benefit from farming activities.
“The agreement is very crucial since it will help to transform the farmers’ lives. And the soil testing is what YARA Tanzania has been campaigning for years since started business in Tanzania,” Ngeno said.
He said farmers have been facing a lot of challenges including acquiring of loans, untimely getting of farm inputs hence the agreement would help to address those challenges and later increase production.
Speaking at the same occasion, Chacha who represented the bank’s Managing Director, Japhet Justine, apart from welcoming the agreement, said sensitization on soil testing was important for boosting crop production among farmers.
“We are all aware that farmers have many challenges and the agreement signed today (yesterday) should be translated into actions. I believe our cooperation will bear impacts in agriculture sector,” he said.
Chacha called on cooperation and transparency for all stakeholders in sector, saying that no-one can go alone without the other to accomplish.
Earlier, Dr Bucheyeki described the agreement as panacea towards addressing critical challenges farmers have for long been facing and frustrated the sector’s growth.
“With this new cooperation, something will be done in helping the farmer. We stand a better chance to support them and make a significant contribution in the economy,” Dr Bucheyeki stressed.
YARA Tanzania in partnership with other stakeholders has been pioneering the significance of soil testing to know its health before cultivation.
Source: IPP Media