Twenty four farmers at Tilawandu village, Kilwa district in Lindi region
have introduced a demonstration farm for sesame production for other
villagers from the district to learn from.
Institutional Coordinator of the Amsha Institute of Rural Entrepreneurs
East Africa, Omari Mwaimu told The Guardian on Saturday that villagers
have decided to establish the demonstration farm to help farmers shift
from traditional farming system to commercial farming.
The farm will enable more than 300 farmer groups in the district to
learn from it to boost their economic fortunes , improve farmer’s
network and facilitate the development of sesame production within the
country.
“As I speak to you now some 150 acres of land has been cultivated and
allocated as demonstration farms at Tilawandu village,” he said.
He said commercial farming is way that farmer plant various crops and harvest it for sell to get profit.
This is a new strategy designed by farmers so that they can access
reliable market for their produce, assist them increase their incomes
and improve their livelihoods.
According to Mwaimu, once they farmers acquire some knowledge on sesame
production Amsha Institute in collaboration with Naliendele
Agricultural Research Institute will provide seeds to farmers, loans to
purchase pesticides, provide technical training on soil conservation,
controlling pests and diseases and post-harvest storage including
improvement of the quality of their produce through training on
storage,” he said.
They will train farmers on accessing up to date market prices
information and negotiation skills so that they can obtain a fair price
for their produce from buyers or brokers to benefit from what they grow.
The groups will also be linked to markets so that they coul access reliable market for their crop.
“There is a need to educate them on commercial farming because sesame
has a lot of health benefits because it is among the seeds rich in
quality vitamins and minerals.
They are very good sources of B-complex vitamins such as niacin, folic
acid, thiamin (vitamin B1), pyridoxine (vitamin B6), and riboflavin,” he
said.
“I believeimproved seeds and farming techniques would be introduced to
many farmers and that the majority of farmers will benefit from what
they grow and shift from traditional farming system,” he noted.
Elaborating on how small holders in Kilwa district are being supported,
he said as Amsha Institute normally use member’s fees to sensitize
farmers to change their mindset and convert their traditional farming
system to commercial agriculture.
According to officials although Tanzania is the world’s 12th largest
sesame producer, still farmers in other areas cannot meet existing
demand as they lack access to seed varieties, capacity building and even
technologies that would improve production within their respective
farms.
To meet this demand Amsha Institute is working with Naliendele
Agricultural Research Institute and Tanzania Graduate Farmers
Association (TGFA) to train farmers on commercial farming to assist
farmers increase sesame production and link them to markets which will
significantly improve their income and livelihoods, enabling them to
purchase additional food, household goods and pay for school costs.
The seeds are an also very valuable source of dietary proteins with fine
quality amino acids that are essential for growth, especially in
children. Just 100g of seeds provide about 18 g of protein (32 percent
of daily-recommended values), according to experts.
Atoka Mbeya mpaka Dar es Salaam kwa baiskeli
Katika hali ambayo humkuta kila mwanadamu kutaka kutumia kipaji chake ili kujipatia kipato binafsi, kijana John Mwaipaya kutoka Songwe jiji Mbeya amechukua maaumuzi ya kuja jiji Dar es Salaam kuendeleza michezo yake ya baiskeli. Anasema kilichomfanya aje jijini Dar, baada ya kutopata mafanikio jiji Mbeya kupitia mchezo huo, hivyo amekuja Dar kutafuta wafadhili watakao msaidia kukuza na kuendeleza kipaji chake cha michezo ya baiskeli. "Mbeya kazi ilikua ngumu sana, yaani nimejitahidi kutunga michezo mingi na kuionyesha lakini hakuna mtu anayeithamini,hivyo nilisikia Dar kuna watu wanaoweza kunisaidia kuendeleza michezo yangu" amesema John.
Michezo hii,nimeigundua mwenye,hakuna aliyenifundisha na nimeifanya kwa muda wa miaka nane sasa aliongeza bwana John.
Anasema alipofika Dar amekuta mambo ni tofauti na alivyofikiri kwani imekua ni ngumu kupata mtu wa kuendeleza kipaji hicho. Nilipofika Dar, nilifikia Ukonga kwa shemeji yangu, lakini kwa niliondoka baada ya muda mfupi kutoka ungumu pale nyumbani kwa sasa nipo Magomeni amesema bwana John.
Halidhalika bwana John amesema anafanya shughuli hiyo kwa kuzunguka sehemu mbalimbali na kuonyesha michezo hiyo."Huwa watu wanajikusanya kila mwenye kiasi chochote hutoa halafu ndo naanza kuonyesha" amesema bwana John. Ninachokipata ni kiasi kinachoniwezesha kupata hela ya kula tu.
Bwana John ana ndoto za kufungua chuo kitakachowafundisha vijana michezo mbalimbali ya baiskeli. Hivyo kufanya fani hiyo kuwa sehemu itakayowawezesha vijana kujipatia ajira rasmi.
Michezo hii,nimeigundua mwenye,hakuna aliyenifundisha na nimeifanya kwa muda wa miaka nane sasa aliongeza bwana John.
Anasema alipofika Dar amekuta mambo ni tofauti na alivyofikiri kwani imekua ni ngumu kupata mtu wa kuendeleza kipaji hicho. Nilipofika Dar, nilifikia Ukonga kwa shemeji yangu, lakini kwa niliondoka baada ya muda mfupi kutoka ungumu pale nyumbani kwa sasa nipo Magomeni amesema bwana John.
Halidhalika bwana John amesema anafanya shughuli hiyo kwa kuzunguka sehemu mbalimbali na kuonyesha michezo hiyo."Huwa watu wanajikusanya kila mwenye kiasi chochote hutoa halafu ndo naanza kuonyesha" amesema bwana John. Ninachokipata ni kiasi kinachoniwezesha kupata hela ya kula tu.
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