National Seed Certification Institute Trains Farmers On Quality Seed Identification, Production And Marketing At Nanenane Exhbitions
IT now takes only few minutes to farmers in Tanzania to detect counterfeit and sub- standard seeds through the use of feature phones or smartphones.
For years, the majority of crops growers in the country have incurred serious field losses as the sector was flooded with sub-standard kernels, penetrated by some unscupolous dealers.
But time always brings solutions. The Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI) has introduced a farmer user- friendly cloud -connected system aimed at putting an end to the menace.
Farmers are only required to dial 148*52#, and then follows the instructions provided, or call TOSCI’s customer service line through 0800782424 to verify the authenticity and quality of seed.
TOSCI is the state- owned body responsible for the inspections, testing and certification of agricultural seeds to protect farmers from low-quality or fake inputs in Tanzania.
The institute is now using the ongoing Nanenane Agricultural Exhbitions to train farmers and private- sector seed producers on key areas pertaining seeds.
“We’re also using the opportunity of provided by the Exhbitiins to impart farmers with theoretical and practical knowledge to master the technology, a development aimed at fostering the use of quality seeds across the country” expressed Dr Nyasebwa Chimagu, the Director General of TOSCI.
He said the Government, through the National Development Vision 2050, is working to ensure that Tanzania stand among the leading food – producing countries on the African continent, but also securing a position among the top ten excelling countries in the world.
“This vision which calls for significant improvement in, and effective supervision of, the use of quality seeds in the agriculture sector,” Dr Chimagu added.
Dwelling on the theme of this year’s Nanenane Exhbitions, “Identify the Market, Produce Effeciently To Realise Vision 2050”, he noted that TOSCI remains a key player in enabling Tanzania to realise this vision.
Dr Nyasebwa Chimagu
” This ambitious vision set by the Government is to a great extent depending on the availability and the use of improved certified kernels among the farmers, and this is our core role responsibility,” Dr Chimagu insisted.
At the Nanenane Exhibitions, he briefed that the institue has initiated a professional trainig clinic to capacitate seed- producer companies, and other stakeholders to hatch quality seeds that meet the demands of expanded markets, both within and outside the country.
Improve without restructuring it
Together with that, he said the rolling out of the training also takes into account special packages sessions designed to empower welling farmers to become useful seeds producers and traders.
He informed that the training based to empower farmers to adhere to professional skills and recommended techniques governing the production of quality seeds, as well as the procedures and ethics required to venture into seed marketing.
“Seed marketing has become a lucrative business as Tanzania is currently exporting a series of crops outside the country, including pigeon peas, lentils, maize and horticulture produce, presenting a prestigious economic opportunity for seed producers to tap into and benefit from,” he unveiled.
With TOSCI- certified seeds, he said farmers stand a posibble chance of doubling their crop harvests.
“As per the set national average, one acre can produce 2.1 tonnes, but with the use of improved and certified seeds, a farmer can harvest between five to ten tonnes per acre if recommended agronomic practices are applied,” he added.
Dr Chimagu challenged farmers to turn out in larger number at the institute’s pavilions, scattered across various zones where the Nanenane Exhbitions are taking shape, to receive vital assistance training and obtain infomation on reliable seed sources.