MEDIA FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME TRAINING COURSE.

4TH - 9TH NOVEMBER, 2012.

CONTENT:

� Introduction

� Training and sensitization on cassava seeds production

� Cassava seed multiplication and management

� Harvesting and Distribution

� Achievements

� Challenges

� Lesson learnt

� Suggestion

Introduction

� Mkuranga district is situated about 50 km from Dar es salaam city, it is bordering Dar es salaam city to the north, to the east is bordered by Indian ocean, to the south there is Rufiji District, and west is bordered by kisarawe District.

� In 2010 it was estimated that the District has a population of 246,369 people, out of which 118,257 are male and 128,112 are female.

� The District has a total of (243,200 Ha), the mainland is (198,500 Ha),the area that is suitable for cultivation is (193,400 Ha), while the area which is under cultivation is only (166,230 Ha).

In trod cont…

� Cassava is major staple food and commercial crop to the most of the household farmers in Mkuranga district.

� Due to its importance, various Research Institutes and Organizations were conducted their studies based on cassava plant and come out with results which identified number of challenges.

� Amongst them were poor planting materials resulted to low production volumes.

In trod. Cont…

� To overcome these challenges and facilitating farmers in obtaining improved planting materials.

� The district welcomed others agricultural development partners or key players to chip in on those pitfalls that they can make improvement for the sake of farmers.

� From 2008 the district was involved on implemented cassava development chain with agricultural development partners or key players (e.g. FAO,VECO,IITA,ARI- Kibaha,).

•The District tabled this challenges to FAO which took the initiative of supporting farmers to multiply improved cassava variety called Kiroba, through its project known as improved cassava seed multiplication farms.•FAO agreed to finance the development of 5 farms at five different villages with 10 acres(4hectors) each in the District.•The aim of the development of improved cassava seed was to assure availability of quality seed that can boost production to meet market requirements.

Improved Cassava Seed Multiplication farm at Hoyoyo

TRAINING AND SENSITIZATION ON CASSAVA

SEEDS PRODUCTION.

� The extension agents conducted trainings and sensitization meetings to farmer groups , discussing the challenges and come out with the plan of developing cassava seed multiplication farms.

� Farmers were trained on criteria for selection of proper allocation of sites for seed multiplication farms which guided farmers on acquiring fields for this purpose.

� We emphasized farmers that, in addition to ensuring seed availability, but cassava seed multiplication is also a business opportunity .

Cont…

� Following the District Agricultural Development Plan (DADPs, different roles were described in which some were belonging to farmers themselves and others to district council and research agencies.

� Therefore farmers were required to acquire and prepare land for seed multiplication and the district to support them on technical and management skills.

� Farmers in Hoyoyo village agreed and prepared 10 acres (4hectors) of seed multiplication farm.

CASSAVA SEED MULTIPLICATION AND

MANAGEMENT.

� District council agreed with FAO to finance the delivered quality planting materials for improved

seed from ARI-Kibaha to farmers.

� Kibaha research has its research farms for cassava at Chambezi in Bagamoyo district where these planting materials were obtained.

� Farmers were trained on how to properly plant cassava for seed multiplication.

Cont……….

The lorry loaded with improved cassava planting materials from research farms

�

cont…

� Multiplication farms were planted under the assistance of extension officers to ensure that conditions required for establishment of seed multiplication farms are adhered to.

� Management on cassava Seed farm was done collaboratively between farmers, extension officers and researchers:i. Farmers: were required to weed their farms regularly and rouging the diseased plant so as to ensure cleanliness of the planting materials.

ii. Researchers: were engaged in provision of training concerning pest and diseasessurveillance.

iii. Extension officers: were also involved in frequent training and monitoring of cassava farms to ensure that farms are managed by farmers accordingly.

Cont…A team of Researcher, Extension officers and

Farmers when inspecting established cassava multiplication farm.

HARVESTING AND DISTRIBUTION.

� After 6 -7.months cassava seeds were ready for harvesting and distribution.

� The harvested seeds were distributed to group members who are the owners of the farm freely, where as cassava seeds were sold to cassava producers in Hoyoyo village and neighboring village at a price (TAS 3, 500/=.per bundle of cassava seed that contain 30 - 40 stems).

ACHIEVEMENTS.

1. Assuring seed availability.

� Quality seed availability has contributed boosting cassava production in Hoyoyo village.

� Farmers in the village managed to harvest 1,500 bundles that were distributed to villagers, where as 2,500 bundles were distributed to neighboring villagers that are producing cassava.

� Farmers planted a quality seed from 2008/2009 to 2011/2012 season, the average in production has increased from average of 2.5 tons/acre to 6 tons per acre.

Achievement Cont…2. Improved income and food security to farmers.

� Farmers in Hoyoyo obtained a total of TAS. 19,000,000/= through the sales of cassava stems. This income has helped farmer to improve their livelihoods sustainability.

� The income will continue to flow for a period of 3 years as the cassava seed multiplication farm will be ratoon for 2 seasons thus sales of clean cassava planting materials will continue.

Achievement cont…3. Strengthening of processing sector in the

district.

� It is known that selling cassava flour and chips after processing or adding value gives high profit compared to selling fresh cassava.

� Farmers are now engaged in the cassava processing business by adding values to obtain cassava flour which are used for making bites and other cassava by products so as to increase family income and assuring their food sufficient.

� Through the income that was obtained from selling quality seeds, farmers group have managed to buy cassava processing machines (Cassava chipper and milling machine).

Achievement cont…

� Machines and equipment own by organized family farmers.

Figure 4: Machines and Equipment own

Challenges

� Lack of well defined market for cassava planting material.

� Courage and indetermination of farmers in accepting the ideas and implementing it, because it is a new idea to most of them.

� Failure of some farmers to follow the required agronomic practices, crop inspection and sanitation conditions to fulfill the establishment of improved cassava seeds, leads to some of their farms to have pest attack and diseases.

Challenges cont…….� Affected farmers field with cassava mosaic virus.

Lessons learnt

� If you want to create ownership to farmers make sure they contribute and allow them to participate in the whole process right from the beginning.

� It is not necessary to be so many farmers to accomplish planned activities but what is needed is commitment.

SUGGESTIONS.

� Cassava can help on areas with unreliable rainfall to ensure food security and increased income through proper processing hence value addition.

� Efforts should be taken to establish clean cassava seeds farms for those who intend to consider cassava crop development initiatives.

THE END

THANK YOU