Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute

Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute TARI Ifakara Center and TARI Tengeru Center in collaboration with MEDA Tanzania through the RAPID project have celebrated the banana farmer's week. The celebration was held at the Ifakara on 28th March, 2023. The event  was attended by farmers from various villages of  Kilombero District. The participants included the youth who are undergoing  the training through the BBT program. Extension officers of Ifakara District council, Village Leaders and researchers from TARI Tengeru and TARI Ifakara Centres. The event was organized in such a way that,  TARI provided training to farmers on the best agronomic practices and also introducing  announcing the best banana varieties that have been released by TARI. The varieties are TARIBAN 1, TARIBAN 2, TARIBAN 3 and TARIBAN 4. These varieties have high yields and are resistant to diseases.

The Centre Manager of  TARI Ifakara, Dr. Emmanuel Mgonja provided remarks which highlighted the research scope and priorities under TARI carried out through a network of  17 centres, He emphasized that, research on banana is a collaborative activity for TARI Ifakara.  He said,   TARI Ifakara is doing research on rice,  but collaborates with other centers to undertake research on other crops such as banana,  cassava, potatoes, sugarcane, cocoa and beans.

The official guest of this event was Mr. Elia Shemtoi,  Head of the Division of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, Kilombero DC. He thanked TARI for providing the training to farmers which will enable them increase crop production  for  improving their livelihood.