Ruvu ward official Dawson Maine said the radio programme has helped farmers increase production, which had been dwindling in recent years. "We are now monitoring closely about 400 hectares (990 acres) of onions which have been placed under irrigation schemes, and (we) render necessary assistance to the farmers," Maine said. "The farmers are responding very well to many problems that affect their lives." Ruvu ward has a population of 12,820. Until the onset of more extreme weather, it used to be the main supplier of onions and rice in northern Tanzania, attracting traders from Moshi, Arusha and Nairobi. "Peasant farmers need to adapt to weather-related challenges which have had an impact on their incomes due to reduced crop yields," said Henry Laswai, an agricultural researcher at Sokoine University of Agriculture in Morogoro. "As a result (of these challenges) they are being pushed into extreme poverty." An onion trader in Same district said that, despite the weather challenges, onion growing is still a booming business. A single hectare of onions can generate about 600 kg of produce, worth 600,000-1.2 million Tanzanian shillings (about $370-740). Canada-based Farm Radio International helps more than 250 radio stations in 35 African countries to reach farmers. In Tanzania, the organisation has developed programmes for radio stations in several regions, tailored to the needs of local farmers.
Posted on: Fri, 23 Aug 2013 17:41:39 +0000
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