Posted on February, 16, 2021 at 09:26 am
Agriculture deputy minister Hussein Bashe revealed this in the National Assembly in Dodoma when responding to various issues from MPs directed to the ministry at the weekend.
He said the implementation of the plan will go in tandem with the distribution of modern equipment in a mobile laboratory.
"The lab equipment will be used to examine the fertility of the soil and provide services to farmers free of charge so that each farmer will have his farm plot examined.
"And this is a simple technology, as ministry, we have decided to take the step because it costs 40,000/- to 100,000/- for a farmer to examine the fertility of the soil due to long distances to where the lab is situated,” he added.
In order to have gainful farming, Bashe said the ministry will use simple technology of lab equipment that will examine soils’ fertility.
After that, the farmer will be given a certificate to show the condition of his soil and fit for cultivation of which type of crops.
Meanwhile, Bashe said his ministry will start following up extension officers on daily basis using a special global positioning system (GPS) gadget.
The agricultural extension officers will be using over 7,000 motor cycles that will be distributed to all the local councils starting next farming season.
“We have established the call centre here at the ministry and GPS will be used to know whether an extension officer was actually working in his area of jurisdiction.
"We shall provide them with Ipads into which they will be feeding details on daily basis that shows the farms they visit and which farmer,” Bashe said.
The Deputy Minister they have embarked in strengthening research and seeds development and the government has decided not to depend money from donors in implementing the task.
He said the government has planned to establish a research fund, which, according to the TARI Act, will seek funds and manage all issues on research in the country.
"And to begin with, in the next budget we shall bring up a strategic plan that we have to produce 5,000 tons of sunflower OPV seeds so that during the next farming season we distribute to farmers so that we get 123,000 tons of sunflower oil for the country’s high demand of the commodity,” Bashe said.
In regard to farm inputs, the deputy minister said the government has decided to change its governance system after conducting research on cotton, and now they will do so in regard to cashew nuts as well during the next season.
He also said in regard to cotton, for this year they have distributed seeds and pesticides without payment and will do so in regard to cashew nuts as well.
Source: IPP Media