Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute

 Project Background

Main objective

To contribute to improving food security and income for pineapple small holder farmers in Tanzania through improved access to quality seed for increased pineapple productivity and marketing, and hence competitiveness of the pineapple industry in Tanzania. The project will be implemented in a public-private partnership involving public Tissue culture laboratory TARI-Mikocheni and Crop Bioscience Solutions based in Arusha in collaboration with agricultural offices in the pineapple growing districts.

Specific objectives

1.      To pilot the developed tissue culture protocol, and guidelines for massive multiplication of adequate quality pineapple planting material.

2.      To institutionalize a reliable seed delivery system for market preferred MD2 and Smooth cayenne pineapple planting material to farmers.

3.      To promote proven technologies and practices for enhancing commercial production of pineapple in three districts.

Expected outcomes

This project is expected to contribute to increasing income and improving livelihood of farmers in the pineapple growing districts through enhanced productivity and competitiveness of the pineapple industry in Tanzania. The project will pilot the institutionalization of a reliable seed delivery system for production and delivery of market preferred pineapple planting material to farmers.

The project key outputs are expected to lead to outcomes that will be manifested as changes in behaviours and/or practices by pineapple farmers and other stakeholders in pineapple seed value chain, production, and marketing. The three major outcomes will include:

        i.  A sustainable system for mass multiplication of adequate quality planting material

       for MD2 and smooth cayenne pineapple varieties for increased productivity.

        i.  Adoption of proven good agronomic practices and postharvest handling practices

       for enhancing commercial production of market quality pineapples in Tanzania.

      ii.  A reliable seed delivery system for market preferred MD2 and Smooth cayenne

       pineapple planting material to farmers.

Achievements of the Projects so far

i.                    Capacity building strengthened through staffs tailor-made training.

ii.                  A total of 600 mother stocks of Smooth cayenne pineapple collected and initiated in the tissue culture laboratory.

iii.                A total 11000 MD2 pineapple planting material produced.

iv.                Two demo plots of in vitro MD2 pineapple seedlings i) on-station at Chambezi, and ii) on-farm at Fukayosi established.

v.                  Awareness creation of MD2 pineapple to 146 pineapple farmers and other stakeholders conducted in the project districts.

For more Information, contact

Happyness Gabriel Mollel (Ph. D),

Email: happynessgabriel83@yahoo.com, Phone No. +255744328314