Bayer intensifies farmer sensitization campaign to strengthen food security, agri resilience in Morogoro

MOROGORO: Bayer Tanzania has intensified its nationwide farmer sensitisation campaign by reaching farmers in Morogoro Region, two weeks after launching the initiative in the Lake Zone.

The campaign, conducted in collaboration with stakeholders in the seed industry, including the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI), seeks to help maize farmers verify certified seed before planting and improve productivity through the use of high-quality agricultural solutions.

The four-month National Consumer Promotion Campaign, dubbed “Dekalb Mafanikio Shambani,” comes as Tanzania seeks to raise agricultural productivity, strengthen food security and build the resilience of smallholder farmers facing increasingly unpredictable climatic conditions.

Speaking during the Morogoro event, Bayer Tanzania Managing Director Sango Mwinyi, who is leading the campaign, said awareness creation was particularly important among smallholder farmers, many of whom remain vulnerable to counterfeit maize seed.

“Smallholder farmers form the backbone of Tanzania’s agricultural sector, producing much of the country’s food while contributing significantly to rural livelihoods and economic growth. Their role extends beyond national borders, helping to support food security across the wider East African region,” said Mwinyi.

The campaign will focus on five DEKALB maize hybrid varieties developed for Tanzania’s diverse agroecological zones, including low-rainfall areas and high-potential farming regions. According to Bayer, the varieties are intended to help farmers achieve more stable harvests and improve productivity despite increasingly erratic weather patterns.

For farmers, however, the choice of seed is only one part of the production equation. Authenticity is equally important because counterfeit or uncertified seed can undermine the investment made in land preparation, fertiliser, labour and other farm inputs. Verification before planting therefore provides farmers with an important safeguard against purchasing seed that may not meet required quality standards.

Bayer Unit Support Squad Lead for Smallholder Farmers, Everlyn Musyoka, said climate variability was continuing to create significant difficulties for smallholder farmers, increasing the importance of access to certified seed.

“Smallholder farmers continue to face significant challenges arising from climate variability and erratic weather conditions. As an organization committed to advancing food security, we are promoting certified seeds that can help farmers improve productivity, strengthen resilience and contribute to sustainable agriculture. When farmers have access to quality agricultural innovations, they are better positioned to feed their families, support their communities and contribute to national development,” said Everlyn.

The campaign also includes a consumer promotion intended to encourage farmers to purchase genuine DEKALB seed and verify its authenticity. Farmers have an opportunity to win prizes including knapsack sprayers, smartphones, hand-operated maize planters, motorbikes, solar panels and maize shellers. Two lucky farmers will each win a Toyota pick-up at the end of the campaign.

Participation requires farmers to purchase DEKALB seed from authorised agro-dealers in their localities. They must then scratch the TOSCI e-verification sticker on the seed package to reveal a unique code and dial 14852# to enter the 12-digit verification number.

After successful verification, participants receive a confirmation text message and are automatically entered into the promotion draw. Winners will be announced every two weeks throughout the campaign period.

The verification process is intended to give farmers a practical way of checking seed authenticity before committing valuable land and resources to a planting season. For smallholder households, where a poor harvest can have direct consequences for food availability and income, making informed decisions about seed quality is particularly important.

Mwinyi said the campaign was designed to help farmers protect their investment while encouraging wider adoption of certified seed.

“Every planting season represents a significant investment for farming households, and access to genuine, high-quality seed is one of the most important factors in achieving a successful harvest. Through the Dekalb Mafanikio Shambani campaign, we are encouraging farmers to verify their seed before planting so they can confidently access authentic products, improve productivity and strengthen their resilience. When smallholder farmers succeed, they help drive food security, economic growth and agricultural transformation across Tanzania,” said Mwinyi.

Beyond the consumer promotion, Bayer said it would continue supporting farmers through agronomic training, farmer education initiatives and access to agricultural innovations intended to improve yields and promote sustainable food production.

The campaign forms part of Bayer’s broader efforts to support farmers with technologies and agricultural solutions aimed at improving productivity, strengthening resilience and contributing to food and nutrition security in Tanzania and the wider East African region.

For farmers, the central message remains straightforward: seed quality matters, and verification before planting can help protect the investment made in every farming season.