By VALENTINE OFORO, Kongwa
FARMERS in the central zone corridor have been encouraged to embark into larger cultivation of sorghum as the cereal crop is currently attracting vast reliable market.
In Tanzania, sorghum is grown in almost all the semi-arid areas by subsistence farmers for food, feed, and beer. A total of 6.2 million hectare is used for cereal crop production, of which 0.9 million hectares (15 percent) is under sorghum cultivation
For years, millet growers faced a challenge of assured market for their produce, but thank to the Tanzania Breweries Limited (TBL) for decided to chip in and started to purchase the crop from the farmers with purpose for brewing beers.
Not only that, but the county's beer making company has also established a special scheme for capacitating the farmers, in terms of entering into a special contract with them in order to produce in abundant and at needed quality so as to supply for the company.
In the robust contract, the company is enabling the millet growers to produce the Cereals with needed tannin for breeding beers, among others.
Speaking during the farmer's field day ( FFD) held in Mlali ward of Kongwa district, Dodoma region, Dr Andekelile Mwamahonje ,the agricultural experts from the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) said the farmers are currently blessed with a prestigious opportunity to benefiting highly from the crop.
The FFD was organised by Dodoma Agriculture Seed Production Association (DASPA) in cooperation with TARI, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture, as well as the Accelerated Varietal Improvement and Seed Systems in Africa (AVISA).
Among others, the event was tailored to provide a crucial podium to help impart the sorghum farmers in the semi-arid district with key awareness on the needed agronomic practices for the growing of the cereal crop, as well as certified seed varieties.
"Dodoma, specifically Kongwa district has potential to grow sorghum, the vital economic opportunity which must be used by the farmers to produce in large scale in order to improve their livelihoods as there's vast reliable market, " he observed.
He challenged the farmers to make brave use of outcomes from the agricultural pundits research, as well as technologies in order to adopt better cultivation methods and seeds, and thus, improve their yields.
Speaking for her part, Janeth Nyamayahasi, the chaiperson of DASPA said the Association was working round the clock to ensure the farmers are getting enough, but improved seed varieties for the crop.
"Improved seeds is vital in enabling the farmers to cultivate more productive that's why we've striving all the best to make sure farmers are equipped with enough seeds in order to boost their production and productivity, " she detailed.
Jesca Michael, a sorghum farmer from Mlali village said the event, FFD, has helped to give them crucial knowledge and relevant technologies, the development she said would help them improve their farming works.
In concerted efforts to improve performance of the sub- sector, TARI in sync with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has researched and introduce to the farmers at least four seed varieties for sorghum.
The resilient and high yielding sorghum varieties that are tailored for semi- arid ecologies include IESV 23006-DL, IESV 92008, IESV 92028-DL and IESV 92028-DL and EISV 23070-DL.
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