Posted on February, 1, 2019 at 08:36 am
PETRABENA East Africa Ltd has commended the agreement signed between YARA Tanzania, Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB) and Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute Uyole (TARI Uyole) on soil testing, saying farmers’ crop production would increase.
Addressing a press conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday following the agreement, the company’s managing director, Peter Kumalilwa said his firm was well prepared to ensure timely supply of fertilizers to farmers.
“This agreement will make sense if farmers will be trained to understand the soil health and understand what kind of crops they should cultivate and what kind of fertilizer and the amount they should apply,” he said.
Kumalilwa added that by so doing a farmer would stand a better position to increase productivity and be aware of the importance of testing soil quality.
“This move is crucial because it will go a long way in simplifying our task of supplying fertilizer as farmers will be specific on what kind of fertilizer they need,” he said.
He noted that his company had ongoing training in Morogoro region on the good practices in applying fertilizer, pointing out that the agreement was crucial as it came at a moment when is needed the most.
“Our objective as the main suppliers of YARA Tanzania fertilizer is to put up a strong centre that will train farmers in modern farming and modern ways of preserving and using fertilizer,” he said.
He added that the company has managed to supply fertilizer on time in Morogoro and Tabora regions put an end to complaints from farmers, adding that the company will keep the spirit alive.
Kumalilwa thanked the fifth phase government under the leadership of President John Magufuli for working in collaboration with private sector in improving agricultural activities in the country.
The Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) officer responsible with Environment and Sustainable Agriculture, John Banga said the agreement would practically implement the Second Phase of Agriculture Sector Development Programme (ASDP phase 11) leading to revolution in agriculture.
TARI Uyole director, Dr. Tulole Bucheyeki reiterated that the agreements would go a long way in solving challenges faced by farmers in the country and increase efficiency in the agricultural sector.
“Normally soil needs a pH of from 6.5 to 7 but in many areas of Northern Highlands the content has gone down to pH 4.2 up to 5.3 this situation leads to poor production, therefore these agreements have a crucial role in boosting production,” he said.
Source: IPP Media