Over 1,000 tonnes of fertilisers land in Geita

GEITA: GEITA Region has received about 1,162.7 tonnes of fertilisers, equal to 28.5 per cent of the total demand of 4,084 tonnes for the 2023/2024 agricultural season to achieve productive farming and production.

Geita Regional Assistant Administrative Secretary for Economy and Production, Dr Elfas Msenya made the revelation during the agricultural stakeholders meeting in Geita Region over the weekend.

Dr Msenya explained that from the received fertilisers, about 556.3 tonnes were brought by agents and 395.03 tonnes sold to farmers, while 606.4 tonnes are still in the Geita Cooperative Association (GCU) warehouse.

He said the government through the Tanzania Fertiliser Regulatory Authority (TFRA) keeps on monitoring to ensure that the subsidised fertilisers reach the farmers on time.

Dr Msenya admitted that some subsidised fertilisers’ agents have been sabotaging the system to make big profits and the government has come up with a system to control them.

“That’s why the government has come up with the registration system for farmers in a notebook, thereafter we register them in an electronic system for them to get a special number.

“When a farmer goes to buy fertiliser, he or she uses such a special number. That means there will be no fraud on the issue of cost subsidised fertiliser, because the farmer himself is directly involved.

TFRA Lake Zone Manager, Mr Asheri Kalala in Geita Region said so far 69,998 farmers have been registered in the system to benefit from the cost-subsidised fertilisers.

“Those who registered their information last year are required to update them, so far we have 6,780 farmers who have updated their information.”

The Geita Regional Administrative Secretary, Mr Mohamed Gombati urged the agricultural officers to work on the consistent management on the appropriate use of fertilisers and pesticides.