TARI budget to boost cashew seeds production

TANZANIA Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) has set aside 17bn/- for the construction of irrigation infrastructures that will boost seed production and sustain the agricultural sector in the country.

The funds will also be used for construction of seed storage warehouses for TARI farms.

TARI Director General Dr Geoffrey Mkamilo made the revelation here recently, saying the money is part of a 39.2bn/- budget set aside for the institute for 2022/2023 financial year.

According to Dr Mkamilo, his office’s budget has increased by a massive 27.6bn/- this financial year compared to 11.6bn/- allocated in the previous 2021/2022 financial year.

Dr Mkamilo was speaking during the internal programme review stakeholders meeting conducted by TARI Naliendele in Mtwara to discuss research development works carried by the institute in 2020/2021 financial year on cashew production and short-term crops.

He said the institute has put in place strategic plans that would ensure increased yields on cashew crop production in the country.

The plan will go in line with proper storage and improved cashew seedlings in the warehouses which will be constructed in TARI’s farms.

“Various procedures for starting warehouse construction including procurement have been completed,” he said.

According to Dr Mkamilo, the institute is also set to build research infrastructure, including modern labs for ensuring high quality research performance on cashew diseases.

TARI Naliendele Centre Director Dr Fortunus Kapinga said the major biological constraints in cashew production in the country are cashew diseases.

He said high performance research will help in production of disease resistant cashew crop varieties.

Looking to enhance the growth of the agricultural activities, the government has increased the sector’s budget to a whopping 954bn/- for the financial year 2022/2023, up from 294bn/- allocated during the previous fiscal year.