Farmers urged to seek extension officers’ advice

DODOMA: Wilson Shimo, the Livestock and Fisheries Sector Coordinator in the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), has urged farmers to seek technical advice from experts to maximize their profits.

The coordinator made these remarks during the closing of an extension officers’ conference organized by the Tanzania Society of Agricultural Education and Extension (TSAEE) in Dodoma.

The conference brought together extension officers from the agriculture, livestock, and fisheries sectors across the country to learn about new technologies showcased at the national Nane Nane exhibitions.

He commended the extension officers for their tireless efforts in assisting farmers, livestock keepers, and fishers to produce efficiently.

“I would like to commend the Tanzania Society of Agricultural Education and Extension and their guests for the excellent work they are doing in helping citizens in the agriculture, livestock, and fisheries sectors achieve productive outcomes and make the country self-sufficient in food, especially cereals,” he said.

He added that, due to the significant work these experts are doing, the government continues to improve their working conditions to help them perform better. According to him, the government has purchased 15 vehicles, motorcycles for extension officers across the country, 4,305 tablets, and soil testing equipment to enable extension officers to discharge their duties diligently.

The available data, according to the coordinator, shows that the country has a total of 7,000 extension officers, with 3,642 in the agriculture sector and 647 in the fisheries sub-sector.

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“Despite your small number compared to the existing villages and wards, you have been providing excellent services to meet the needs,” he told the extension officers.

On her part, the Chairperson of the Tanzania Society of Agricultural Education and Extension (TSAEE), Prof. Catherine Msuya from Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), said they are encouraged to see that the government recognizes the contribution of extension officers in making the country food self-sufficient for a long time.

She also thanked President Samia Suluhu Hassan for her consideration of extension officers and for improving their working conditions by purchasing motorcycles and other equipment, including soil testing tools.