Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute

Speech from the guest of honour Eng. John Kulola, on behalf of Regional Secretariat, Geita  region urged farmers  to be proactive  in acquiring the needed  knowledge from extension officers on good agricultural practice as key factor in boosting Cotton and other crops production and productivity.  This was revealed during Cotton Farmers Field Day which was organized under Cotton Victoria Project, implemented by Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) and Tanzania Cotton Board (TCB). The Cotton farmers field day was held at Nyakadua village located at Solwabutundwa Ward, Geita District in Geita region.

The event pulled together representative of Cotton farmers  from four districts of Bukombe DC, Chato DC, Nyang'wale DC and 

Geita DC. Speaking at the event Mr. Richard Kapyela, District Agricultural Officers revealed Cotton productivity in the district  increased from 1260 to  2,400 kilos per acre. This is a  result of adoption of 60 cm by 30 cm spacing by the Cotton farmers.

The farmers field day is part of the implementation protocol of the Cotton Victoria Project which involves capacity building of Cotton farmers and extension staff in cotton growing areas. As such the farmers field days are organized on yearly basis to determine the extend to which farmers receiving the training have implemented the introduced technologies and the outcome of the interventions.

Geita is among regions which the 60 cm by 30 cm spacing technology was introduced to farmers. Farmers representative gathered at Nyakadua village where one of the implementing farmers Mr. James Gwesandili hosted this year's FFD event in Geita region. Mr James who is Cotton farmer and also  Councillor of Solwabutundu ward, stressed on the importance for farmers to be persistent in ensuring they grow cotton as well as other crops such as maize. He further said farmers should grow cotton as cash crop to boost their income for improved livehood. 

The farmers who attended the event provided testimonies of their successes after adopting the new planting spacing. Mr. Shashi Kalulu who  is a Cotton farmer from Kaboha village in Nyagw'ale district,  Geita region testified that he grew cotton in two acres of land and he harvested 3000 kilos per acre. He said, farmers should not open up big land which makes it difficult in management and instead they should grow cotton on few acres which they can manage them well for achieving high productivity. Mr Shashi further said that, the cost of production of one acre of Cotton was approximately TZS 400,000 which is still manageable and profitable even when the price of Cotton stands at TZS 1000 per kilo. 

Mr. Walwa Zacharia Malimi,  from Songambele village, Ipalamasa ward, Chato district,  Geita region, testified that previously he grew cotton in 20 acres of land using 90 cm by 40 cm spacing, the land was too big for him to apply all the good agronomic practices and in return he harvested only 4000 kilos in the entire land an average of 200 kilos per acre. Last season he decided to grow three acres using the new spacing of 60 cm by 30 cm and applied all the needed agronomic practices and harvested 4000 kilos  which is an average of 1333 kilos per acre. In his testimony he urged other farmers no to wary with the new planting spacing, because they can cultivate cotton with high profitability and high economic gain. 

The farmers testimonies vividly proved that, the bottom line in cotton farming is for farmers to understand the importance to increase productivity. This shows that it is not necessary to have a massive land which is not managed well, because all will increase the cost of production whereas the price of cotton remains constant or low which may seem not profitable and thus discourage the farmers. 

In his closing remarks the guest of honour Eng. John  Kulola, praised the Cotton Victoria Project spacing initiative which has proved useful to increase cotton productivity among farmers field