A LONG time struggle to transform agriculture is bearing fruit, giving hope for a brighter future. That was the implication in President Jakaya Kikwete’s move when launching an agricultural research facility built by International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

“Overcoming the many challenges facing African agriculture is a gigantic task that requires addressing many issues including developing adequate capacities for research in order to develop high yielding and disease-resistant seeds,” said president Kikwete.

The president added: “In 2006, the government of Tanzania developed a comprehensive 14-year Agricultural Sector Development Programme to overcome the challenges. The purpose is to increase agricultural productivity through more application of modern science and technology.”

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Serengeti — FARMERS in Serengeti District in Mara Region have generated more than 8bnl/- after selling 2,520 tonnes of tobacco this season.

The Serengeti District Council Executive Director (DED), Ms Goody Pamba, made the revelation during a full council meeting on Wednesday. “Tobacco has earned Serengeti farmers 8.42bn/-from the 2,520.13 tonnes sold this season,” Ms Goody told the Serengeti District Council full meeting.

The meeting was chaired by Serengeti District Council Chairman, John Ng’oina. The district council, she said is keen on ensuring that tobacco farming does not have any negative impact on food security and environmental conservation in the wildlife rich district.

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TANZANIA has finally launched a food fortification programme aimed at adding value to food, in an effort to check health effects resulting from improper nutrition currently affecting 43 per cent of its children population.

President Jakaya Kikwete visited two popular processing factories in Dar es Salaam that have already kicked off the production of fortified food to officially launch the programme. He said at the events that starting the food fortification programme will help reduce — if not eliminating — health hazards grossly affecting stable growth of the children and the entire population.

“Food fortification will now achieve stable nutrition and not just eating for the sake of eating. Consuming food that is added with more value will equally eliminate health complications we now experience in our children,” Mr Kikwete observed.

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WHEN Dr Joseph Ndunguru of Mikocheni Agricultural Research Institute speaks about cutting edge science, he does so with passion. He believes that such science is possible in Tanzania – and that agricultural biotechnology remains the best option to improving food production among resource-poor farmers, says the country’s presidential science laureate Joseph Ndunguru.

“Modern biotechnology holds considerable promise to meet challenges in agricultural production,” Dr Ndunguru said at a public lecture on the theme, “Agricultural Biotechnology: Translating ‘science’ into food and cash for the poor” held at Nkrumah Hall, University of Dar es Salaam last Thursday.

An experienced and internationally acclaimed molecular plant virologist, Dr Ndunguru also encouraged young graduates and aspiring researchers to embrace agricultural biotech, a brave new world for those ready to probe the country’s rich plant kingdom. Tanzania stands to gain a great deal from scientific research.

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Dar es Salaam — Kenya has lifted a ban on Tanzanian cut flower exports which transit through Nairobi for markets destined abroad.

The ban caused Tanzanian growers to lose key customers. It came into effect last May after Kenyan authorities worried about possible pest infestation originating from Tanzania.

“As a result of the ban, the Tanzania flower farmers had lost more than five clients of cut roses in UK, Australia, Japan, Russia and Italy,” TAHA’s Policy and Advocacy Manager, Anthony Chamanga said.

Chamanga said these countries were among the key customers of Tanzania cut flowers, but are willing to buy flowers only through arrangements of exportation whereby, Tanzania flower consignments are consolidated with others from Kenya. “In consequence of losing these customers, the Tanzania farms were compelled to look for other markets, which are however not reliable and give relatively lower prices,” he said.

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