Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE government is looking forward to providing 1,500 Extension Service Officers with motorcycles to enable them reach farmers at the grassroots with modern crop husbandry methods, it has been learnt.
Making the revelation here on Sunday, the Minister for Agriculture, Professor Adolf Mkenda, further said the officers should support the farmers with modern skills to improve their yields right into their remote farms.
Though he did not disclose when they will get the motorcycles, he added that the officers are crucial people in reforming farming in the country and supporting the government in developing the agricultural sector.
“The government is providing the motorcycles, because we want our officers to reach farmers, they must be able to move from one place to another with ease,” he noted.
The minister said that for the agricultural sector to improve there is a need to invest in the extension officers, improve technology and seeds. He also said his ministry will increase cooperation with the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) that plays an important role in pushing for the agricultural reforms by ensuring that the nation gets quality seeds, which are resistant to diseases and other climatic challenges.
“We believe having right seeds, investing in appropriate soil and timely use of Extension Service Officers will reward us and improve production,” he said.
However, he commended the contractual arrangement between the Tanzania Breweries Ltd (TBL) and sorghum out growers, saying the deal benefits both the farmers and the company, where farmers are guaranteed ready market and TBL being assured of the raw material it needs.
“It’s good because TBL and TARI have their workers in the area and because TBL has empowered extension service officers… sorghum production is set to rise from 0.7 tonne per hectare to 3.5 tonnes per hectare,” he
