Tanzania’s agriculture sector-which contributes nearly one-third of the country’s GDP, provides 85 per cent of exports and employs about 80 per cent of the population-has the potential to increase incomes and improve livelihoods.
With a vast land and favourable climate, the country has a wide list of business potentials in the agriculture sector and these could be seen in floriculture, vegetable, fruit, beverage crops, spices, cereals, oilseed and mushroom farming among others.
With that background, farmers from the highland regions of Rukwa, Mbeya, Iringa, Moro goro, Njombe and Ruvuma adopting T-HAKIKI technology and Digital Agency approach in their agricultural activities deserve mobilisation to the grassroots and all parts of the country.
Created by the Quincewood Group Limited company in Tanzania to help farmers verify their inputs, including seeds, control the use of fake seeds, and enable them to obtain inputs on time, receive information from Extension Officers in their areas, and assist farmers in finding a reliable market for their produce, farmers who have applied their skills and technologies expressed optimism that the country is heading the right way in revolutionising its crops’ cultivations.
Visiting the Nanenane Agricultural Exhibition held at Mwakakangale Grounds in Mbeya region to further learn from their colleagues and share ideas, they urged their counterparts from other regions to register with the T-HAKIKI technology system and the Digital Agency to end the scourge of buying fake seeds being sold by dishonest traders in the public.
Innocent Michael from Kasulu District in Kigoma Region and Justin Kitarima from Kilolo District in Iringa Region, for instance after attending trainings and workshops facilitated by the T-Hakiki were at a position to differentiate between genuine and fake seeds sold to them in the public.
Commenting, Mr Michael, who is also a group leader of more than 100 farmers from Kasulu said using the skills acquired from the technology, he could easily verify a seed sample and provide the accurate information to other farmers.
He noted that was also possible with constant skills he has been getting after listening to the pieces of advice from Extension Officers who are close to them.
“Using your mobile phone, whether it is a smartphone or a feature phone, by entering *148*52#, you can verify the seed package you purchased, and get sufficient instructions that have really helped us a great deal in our farming activities.
“We obtain sufficient information, indicating the date on which the seeds were produced and the expiry date, among other essential details that enable farmers to make informed choices. Indeed, T-HAKIKI and the Digital Agency have helped us a lot,” he pointed out.
He said that after being trained by Quincewood on the T-Hakiki system and on how to verify seeds, they have the capacity to train also others and in the end have been realising great yields in comparison to the past when they were not applying the technology and seeds.
On his part, Mr Kitarima said with the Digital Agency demonstrations, they have something valuable to share with their fellow farmers.
“I also appreciate the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI) for standing with us and providing us with education on the use of various seeds and teaching on how to use digital systems (T-Hakiki), which enables us to grow our crops commercially,” he said.
Speaking on the workshops, Fatma Fernandes, Director of Quincewood Group Limited, said they have been trying to educate farmers about using digital systems like T-HAKIKI and the Digital Agency to advance their farming activities.
She said the workshops were beneficial because they teach farmers to check the veracity of the seeds they purchase before using them.
“We work with TOSCI to educate farmers to verify the seeds they want to grow. This will bring benefits to the agricultural sector by eliminating the use of fake seeds. Through this innovation of T-Hakiki, the use of fake seeds has significantly reduced in the country,” she said.
Ms Fernandes, who has participated in the Nanenane farmer’s exhibitions more than six times, commended President Samia Suluhu Hassan for transforming farming into a business.
Elaborating, she lauded the Minister for Agriculture, Hussein Bashe, for ensuring that women and young people enter agriculture as a business and recognize the importance of digital systems for improving the sector.
