Soil health assessed in eight coastal councils

COAST REGION: THE Ministry of Agriculture, through its Department of Land Use Planning and Management, has completed the collection of soil samples in eight councils of Coast Region as part of a nationwide soil health assessment programme.

The councils covered include Kibaha, Bagamoyo, Chalinze, Kisarawe, Kibiti, Mkuranga, Rufiji and Mafia. After completion of the exercise, the samples will be taken to laboratories for detailed analysis to determine the actual soil health status of the region.

The assessment aims to identify soil types, suitable crops, existing challenges and nutrient deficiencies, as well as to determine appropriate fertiliser types and areas unsuitable for farming. With the completion of the Coast Region exercise, a total of 19 regions have so far been assessed nationwide.

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Once the national exercise is completed, the ministry plans to develop digital maps showing soil characteristics, suitable crops, fertiliser recommendations and areas designated for alternative land use.

The Coast Region assessment team, led by Ms Miriam Chanzi, collected 4,732 samples from 2,375 auger points and 733 samples from 241 profile pits.

Ms Chanzi emphasised that soil health assessment is crucial in guiding farmers on the right crops and fertilisers to use. She called on communities to continue cooperating with the ministry to ensure the remaining regions are covered and to bring positive transformation to Tanzania’s agricultural sector.