MOROGORO: PADDY farmers and extension officers in Kilosa District, Morogoro Region have commended the initiative by Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) to boost paddy production in the country through the implementation of System of Rice Intensification (SRI) project.
The project addresses the principles that withstand the effect of climate change in paddy farming.
The SRI project that introduces the application of rice mat nursery, among its features, reduces production costs while doubling productivity.
The training was conducted recently to almost 750 farmers and 16 extensions officers from five irrigation schemes of Chanzuru, Rudewa, Ilonga, Kilangali and Mvumi, all based in Kilosa District.
SRI is a combination of paddy irrigation farming technologies by changing the coordination system of plants, soil, water use and nutrients with the aim of increasing productivity.
Speaking after the practical training on the preparation of rice mat nursery, Josephina Petro – rice farmer at Chanzuru Irrigation Scheme, said that the offered SRI training was aimed at equipping them with new skills of rice production that emphasises the use of few seeds, little water while doubling productivity.
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Godfrey Paschal, who is also paddy farmer from Ilonga Irrigation Scheme, said that with SRI principles he learned that small land can be used to cultivate paddy productively rather than farming a huge piece of land with yields remaining low.
Commenting about the training, an Agricultural officer from Kilosa District, Elina Dastan, commended the training, stressing that paddy mat nursery reduces both farming costs and hardship while increasing yields.
Elina further urged farmers to implement the SRI cultivation so that they can change their lives and ultimately contribute to the national income through agricultural sector.
Sharing her testimony, Ms Anna Maganga, a farmer from Mkula Irrigation Scheme in Kilombero District, said that previously she used to farm five acres of land but ended up harvesting five to six sacks of paddy per acre but after the training on SRI she currently cultivates only two acres and harvests 20 sacks of paddy per acre.
Project Coordinator and Researcher from TARI, Dr Atugonza Bilaro said that during its two out of three years of implementing the project in districts of Kilombero in Morogoro, Chalinze-Coast region, Bunda in Mara, Iringa DC in Iringa region and Mbarali in Mbeya the initiative has successfully attained its goal, prompting its expansion in Kilosa.
SRI project is implemented by TARI in collaboration with Norwegian Institute of Bio Economy research (NIBIO) and Swamination Research Institute (MSSRF) situated in India.
