Tanzania: Rice Farmers Reap Benefits of Jica Project

Posted on :Wednesday , 8th June 2016

Rice farmers in Kilombero have begun storing their crops in warehouses after harvest instead of selling them directly to buyers as it was in the past.

The farmers told a workshop for Horticulture Value Chain Development in Morogoro at the weekend that previously they had to sell the food crops under pressure from the farm, denying them the power to negotiate.

"The farmers' income in Msalise village has increased to 56 per cent while in Mkangawalo village has risen to 62 per cent," said Tito Daudi, a farmer in Kilombero District.

The workshop, organised by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), brought together about 60 participants from different districts which receive support from the organisation under the District Agricultural Development Plan (DADP).

JICA Deputy Chief Advisor, Ippei Itakura, said the aim of the workshop was to share knowledge from a pilot project in Lushoto District in Tanga Region regarding marketing oriented horticulture approach.

The market oriented horticulture approach contributes to food security. It also brings more income, he said. He said JICA has been providing technical cooperation for the improvement of DADP which is part of development plan prepared by all local government authorities.

A Principal Livestock Officer from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Happiness Mlaki, said through DADP farmers have managed to access finance, thus, improving their living standards.

"The DADP has also facilitated to improve the rice production thus increasing rice farmers' income," she said. She pointed out that the DADP has facilitated to train rice farmers how best to store the crop in warehouses. Under the DADP, farmers are trained to manage warehouses in order to maintain the standard of rice.

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