Africa-Press – Tanzania. SUNFLOWER growers in Bahi district have turned up in large numbers to buy quality sunflower seeds provided by the government at a subsidized price with the aim of boosting productivity as efforts towards addressing the shortage of edible oil in the country.
According to a statement issued by the Agriculture Officer of Kigwe Ward, Bahi District, Dodoma region, Abdallah Mdiliko, his ward has sold more than 75 per cent of the seeds provided by the government for distribution to the farmers.
“Our Ward received one tonne of sunflower seeds and now we have almost finished selling it …this is an indication that farmers are planning to grow sunflower which is a strategic crop in Dodoma Region,” he said.
Mr Mdiliko tipped that Bahi District received 28 tonnes of sunflower seeds and each ward was given one tonne for selling to farmers.
He said the seeds have been sold at a subsidized price of 7,000/- per two kg. He said they are committed to ensuring that farmers use the rains expected to fall soon by planting crops that are suitable in their areas.
Mdiliko said they have been putting a lot of pressure on farmers for clearing fields that keep water from flowing in the field and causing landslides.
“We are now planning to ensure that all farmers observe good farming practices so that they can get high productivity so as to eliminate the challenge of food and oil scarcity,” he expressed.
“The farmer is also advised to plant 2 – 3 seeds in each hole at a distance of 75 cm from row to row and 30 cm from hole to hole or 75 to 40 centimeters or 90 to 30 cm for large seeds. The seed hole should be 3 – 5 cm deep,” he explained.
For his part, Kigwe Village Chairman, Jeremiah Sobayii said they are grateful to the government for providing sunflower subsidy seeds, which is a strategic crop in the region.
The government recently said it had spent 2.2bn/- to purchase and distribute sunflower seeds with the aim of reducing oil shortages in the country and saving more than 500bn/- for importing oil.
The Minister for Agriculture, Professor Aldof Mkenda said about 1,600 tonnes of quality sunflower seeds have been distributed to Dodoma councils on behalf of all districts in the country.
He said it was the first time the government had distributed seed that would be sold at a lower price to reach more farmers where the demand for seeds in Tanzania was 5,000 tonnes, but the Ministry of Agriculture said in 2021 they would succeed in delivering 2000 tonnes to farmers, although today they have handed over 1,600 tonnes to the councils.
He said the government was committed to ensuring that by 2021 they no longer import seeds from France, and they had increased training funds for extension officers and farm masters so that they could give better instructions to farmers.
For More News And Analysis About Tanzania Follow Africa-Press
