OVER 300 ARUSHA SMALLHOLDER FARMERS EMBRACE MODERN FARMING EQUIPMENT

More than 350 smallholder farmers in Monduli, Karatu and Simanjiro districts, Arusha Region have switched to modern farming equipment, prompting them to boost crop production per acreage.

 

The advancement comes from a series of trainings facilitated by different players including non-state actors as well as agro-dealers.

 

Botwa Sanga, Marketing Manager for Lonagro - sole distributor of John Deere Agriculture equipment in Tanzania, said: “For many years we have been working with smallholder farmers, educating them on the importance of using modern farming facilities and most of them whether in a group or on individual basis have advanced from hand-hoe farming.”

 

“And this has changed the farming landscape in this part of Tanzania,” Sanga said when speaking at a one-day seminar in Galapo village, Babati District of Manyara Region.

 

The seminar was organised by Lonagro and brought on board more than 200 farmers from across Manyara Region.

 

“We have been empowering farmers to take on conservation farming as well as agri-business,” he added. 

 

According to the official, apart from training the farmers, they are also trained on how to access loans so that they can buy tractors to help them in their farming activities. 

 

Naasha Loyani, one of the farmers who have been attending such seminars attested, saying: “I have benefited a lot from such trainings they have changed my farming system.”

 

Manager for Lonagro, Ray Travas said his company will continue to work with Tanzania’s farmers in efforts to achieve green revolution.

 

“We have been showcasing our products and demonstrate on how to operate and repair them as well as sustainable management of modern farming tools,” he added.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN