TFRA steps up fertiliser advocacy ahead of Nanenane Week

DODOMA: THE Tanzania Fertiliser Regulatory Authority (TFRA) is set to strengthen its advocacy for the national strategic initiative to transform agriculture through increased fertiliser use during the upcoming Nane Nane Exhibition.

Revolutionising agriculture through sustained use of fertiliser has been TFRA’s dominant agenda in the past decade towards achieving long-term development goals of food security in the country to match with the country’s increasing population.

TFRA Communication and Public Relations Manager, Ms Matilda Kasanga said yesterday that the authority will use the Nanenane Exhibition to continue educating farmers and other stakeholders on fertiliser usage and modern methods of crop husbandry.

Since its inception in 2009, TFRA has embarked on spreading education to farmers on fertiliser usage as the cornerstone of agricultural transformation towards attaining food security and economic growth.

Ms Kasanga said during this Nanenane Show, a team of TFRA experts will be stationed at eight venues for carrying out fertiliser business operations.

The selected fair grounds with their regions in brackets are Nzuguni (Dodoma), John Mwakangale (Mbeya), Nyakabindi (Simiyu), Mwalimu Nyerere (Morogoro), Nyamhongolo (Mwanza), Ngongo (Lindi), Ipuli (Tabora) and Njiro (Arusha).

The Farmer’s Day celebrations, according to Ms Kasanga, will also be used for registering more farmers in the TFRA digital system for receiving fertiliser subsidy and to attract investors for building more factories to enhance domestic fertiliser production.

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The Nanenane event, which covers three major sectors of agriculture, livestock and fisheries has in recent years served as a platform for showcasing advancements, innovations and sustainable agricultural practices.

In Tanzania, the first week of August is all about agriculture as companies, farmers, regional and local officials and traders from neighbouring countries are drawn to see the latest developments and opportunities in the world of agriculture.

Tanzania, as a predominantly agricultural country is envisioning a future where farmers have access to quality fertiliser at affordable prices and the knowledge necessary to maximise their yields sustainably.

Ms Kasanga said the vision of a thriving agricultural sector has necessitated the government to focus on the rapid development of the fertiliser sub-sector to empower farmers increase production and thereby promoting economic growth.

“We are conducting education campaigns to farmers on usage of fertiliser because we want to focus on rural production to avert poverty and to promote economic growth in the countryside,” she said in an interview.

With a state-of-the-art laboratory and more than 30 fertiliser factories, Tanzania is scheduled to become the hub of the industry by 2030, according to projections by Tanzanian government authorities.