TABORA: Researchers from the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), , in collaboration with researchers from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), through the Ukiriguru (Mwanza) and Tumbi (Tabora) research centers have conducted training on the best practices of Cassava to farmers of such crop.
The training, which lasted for five days held in Tabora region in 10 villages across the Uyui, Urambo, and Kaliua districts aimed at empowering farmers with Cassava best practices while identifying diseases affecting it together with the use of disease-resistant seed varieties.
Speaking after the completion of the training, TARI Assistant Researcher in Cassava of Ukiriguru, Maria Augustine, said the response has been satisfactory and the farmers are ready to use the improved research-based seed varieties.
She emphasized that the researched seed also is significantly in providing higher yields compared to traditional seeds.
“There are farmers that we’ve already trained on how to cultivate and produce superior seeds which we have researched at our institute. The training will help them to produce seed that they would even sell to small scale farmers than directly obtaining it from the institute.” She said.
One among farmers attended the training Yassin Habibu, a resident of Ulasa village in the Urambo district, explained that he was affected by lack of such knowledge resulted to harvest small yields of crops.
“Previous I would harvest between five to ten bags per acre , but now, I’m told that you can get about 12 tons per acre, now we will love cassava farming even more.” He said.
