By VALENTINE OFORO
THE sunflower farmers in Singida region must have all reasons to smile following a move by the Agricultural Seeds Agency (ASA) to distribute at least 600 tons of the subsidized sunflower seeds.
The improved seeds, record variety, have been distributed to the growers in the country’s sunflower hub region as per the government's directives.
Among others, the vision of the robust exercise is to assure the farmers in the region mapped in the central zone corridor are getting the high-yielding variety at affordable prices in order to engage into mass production of the edible oil raw crop with assured productivity.
Speaking to the sunflower growers and stakeholders during the tailor-made forum for the official launching of the seeds distribution exercise, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with ASA, Dr SOPHIA KASHENGE, unveiled that the region will receive a total of 600 tons of the subsidized seeds, out of which, 315 tons is hybrid seeds.
"These seeds which have high yielding potential will be marketed to the farmers at indicative patriotic prices in order to help them heighten production and productivity,” Dr KASHENGE unveiled.
She urged the seed dealers to make sure they market the seeds at the set prices, and not otherwise, saying the government through the Ministry of agriculture has decided to subsidized the seeds in a crucial mission to help elevate production of crop, being with an eye to curtail shortage in availability of edible oil across the country.
On his side, speaking at the event, Deputy Agriculture Minister, DAVID SILINDE expressed that the government was working to ensure at least 5000tons of improved sunflower seeds are produced, informed that so far, a total of 2045 tons have been produced through ASA and other institutions in the private sector.
According to him, the seeds will be marketed to the farmers through subsidized prices in different sunflower growing regions across the country to help increase production of the edible oil raw crop in this season.
"The government is working to overcome the existing shortage of edible oil in the country, that is why it is executing diverse initiatives, including a move to ensure the farmers are equipped with enough improved seeds, and at affordable prices," he insisted.
PETER SERUKAMBA, the Singida regional commissioner (RC), for his side spoke over the need for the farmers to use the seeds effectively so as to heighten their production scope.
He hailed the government for initiating the subsidized seeds scheme, saying the development will result onto major improvements towards performance of the sub sector.
The minister detailed, the region with high potential for the cultivation of sunflowers was expecting to grow the crop at an area of 300,000 acres in this season, the impressive development which is projected to produce a total of 500,000 tons.
With the expected high tonnage production, the RC expressed high optimisms over increase in the production of edible oil in the country.
Statistics show that Tanzania ranks 10th in the world for sunflower production, 2nd in Africa and 1st country in East Africa. In Tanzania, sunflowers are found to grow well in almost all regions, which is a prestigious economic opportunity for the country.
The Global Agriculture Food Security Program (GAFSP) indicates that sunflower is the most likely sub-sector to yield investable opportunities in Tanzania.
However, production of the crop which contributes to at least 68.9 percent of all edible oil produced in the country has remained low due to several factors, including challenges in availability of improved seed varieties with high oil content.
The country is currently producing only 290,000MT of edible oil, forcing it to annually import 420,000MT, and it is forecasted that demand would increase to 700,000MT by 2030.
As per the recommendations, the sunflower grains are supposed to possess oil content from between 38 and 44 percent, but most of the grains produced in the country are at 34 percent.
In efforts to help improve production, at least 268 youth who are engaging in the Building Better Tomorrow (BBT), the country’s major youth initiative for agribusiness program at the Chinangali II block farm in Chamwino district, Dodoma region are expected to enter into mass cultivation of sunflower crop.
At the farm, the youth will produce the edible oil raw crop at acreage of 2,020, the vital development which is projected to help curtailing the shortage of cooking oil across the country.
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