Ruvuma Farmers Praised for Embracing Agricultural Science

Ruvuma

Farmers in the Ruvuma region have been commended for their intelligence and willingness to adopt scientific farming methods in crop production. This praise came from the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Hussein Bashe (MP), during a public meeting on September 19, 2024, after inspecting the Mtyangimbole Maize Selling Center in Songea District.

In addition to visiting the Mtyangimbole center, Minister Bashe toured the Madaba Maize Purchasing Center in Mahanje Ward. He assured farmers that they would receive training on modern farming techniques and a new Agricultural Tools Center would be established. The center will provide services such as tractors, power tillers, planting machines, and subsidized seeds and fertilizers, benefiting the residents of Ngumbila, Mtyangiambole, and Mkungatema areas.

“We are grateful for your visit, which has helped resolve our grievances. We ask that our thanks be conveyed to Her Excellency President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan,” said farmer Aston Mwamsatu. Fellow farmer Peter Komba requested Minister Bashe’s assistance in resolving electricity issues at the Mtyangimbole Grain Purchasing Center.

Minister Bashe also informed farmers that from next year, all crop purchasing centers under the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) will be equipped with maize processing machines to eliminate the need for manual sorting. “We will also provide you with subsidized seeds and fertilizers to increase productivity,” said Minister Bashe.

The Minister urged farmers to start preserving damaged maize for sale as animal feed, reducing their losses. Farmers revealed that out of every 120-kilogram sack of maize, about 10 to 30 sacks could contain damaged maize.

At the Madaba Center, Minister Bashe instructed the NFRA to increase staff and install digital scales to simplify the purchasing process for farmers. He also encouraged them to sell their maize to NFRA centers, where they would receive TZS 700 per kilogram, helping them avoid brokers who purchase maize in rural areas for as low as TZS 300 to 350 or below TZS 600.