Taha magazine final

FREE COPY

0004 FEB - APRIL 2017

ISSN 00005613

OASIS YOUNG PLANT’S SUCCULENT BLOOMS

SOLAR

MORE THAN LIGHT TO FARMERS

BEAUTY WITHOUT THE BEAST MATILDA’S BIO INTENSIVE CROP PROTECTION

BACKYARD SUCCESS 1

Logistics at heart OUR PARTNERS

WELCOME TO TAHAFRESH TAHA Fresh is a premier logistics services provider in Tanzania. Established in 2008, TAHAFresh has become a one stop shop centre for logistics services which are tailored to its customers’ needs. Our company has evolved from horticulture cargo handling to integrated logistics services covering airfreight and sea/ocean freight forwarding, trucking, customs clearing and forwarding as well as insurance. Our local and international logistics experience uphold global standards and reliability, which has accorded us a good reputation as a trustworthy logistics company in Tanzania. We are proud that through our services we are able to connect cargo from Tanzania with the rest of the word and bring the world cargo to Tanzania and the rest of Africa. Commitment and excellence is core in our business, by using TAHAFresh you are assured of world class services from highly experienced and well-qualified professionals. TAHAFresh in an IATA Certified Agent, a proud member of FIATA and a member Tanzania Freight Forwarders Association (TAFFA).

2

OUR SERVICES Air Freight Sea Freight Trucking Clearing and Forwarding Insurance Import and Export ARUSHA OFFICE

DAR ES SALAAM OFFICE

Kanisa Road, Plot No. 49

Rita Tower, 21st Floor

P. O. BOX 16520 Arusha, Tanzania

P.O. BOX 7666 Tanzania

TEL/FAX: +255-27-2544568

TEL/FAX: +255-22-2112943

Mob: +255685630631

Mob: +255689630631

info@tahafresh.co.tz

info@tahafresh.co.tz

www.tahafresh.co.tz

www.tahafresh.co.tz

3

M ES S A G E F R O M TAHA CEO & CHAIRPERSON TFHL

I

t is my pleasure to present to you our 4th issue of Horticulture in Tanzania magazine and our first of 2017.

4

affordable and sustainable demanddriven services to the industry.

During 2016, TAHA achieved continued to improve the sector by providing quality and timely services to our Members. Our Commercial

We improved the TAHA Information System (TIS), which is benefiting more than 18,000 users via mobile phones. Through TIS, most farmers accessed market information, agronomic tips and information

wings TAHAFRESH Handling Ltd and Fresh2Sokoni Ltd have provided TAHA with additional reach, strength and resources to reasonably provide and maintain quality, reliable,

on buyers, which in turn improved their income. Moving forward, TAHA will upgrade TIS by digitalizing the system and adding features to accommodate market and

logistics information, agronomic tips, financial and input dealer’s information as well as gender and nutritional tips.

I would like to thank our Donors, The Governments of Tanzania and Zanzibar, Our Members, TAHA Board and Implementing Partners. As we start 2017, I look forward to their continued support and collaboration in continuing to achieve our intent.

5

EDITORIAL TEAM MAGAZINE EXECUTIVES Jacqueline Mkindi Anthony P. Chamanga Amani Temu

Contents

F ro m t h e E d i t o r

MANAGING EDITOR

The success of Moza and Venerada

Sandra Kabongoyi

from the Red Jet variety of green

HALF AN ACRE DIFFERENCE Vegetables proven to be a profitable business

peppers by Rijk Zwaan, Matilda’s CONTRIBUTORS

backyard

Sandra Kabongoyi

vegetable and maize integration,

David Minga

Patience Minga and her billionaire

Louise Labuschagne

capsicums,

Paputa’s

dreams and Catherine and Rene’s

Simon Mlay

cuttings at Oasis farm in Moshi.

Peter Kossakowski

These

Andreas Gramzow

stories

not

only

make

Philipo Joseph

fascinating reads but also point out

Bhubhinder Singh

a uniform end goal. With different

P.10

backgrounds and means, they all SALES & MARKETING

set out with the same aspirations,

John Bambo

desires and a common target to

DISTRIBUTION TAHA Operations Department

O

ur absolute pride

attain success through farming while

at

thoroughly enjoying it.

TAHA

ability

our work

us at TAHA as horticultural facilitators

and around Tanzania towards

at different stages of the value chain

Kanisa Road, House no. 49

achieving

dreams.

to do our ultimate best in advancing

P.O. Box 16520 Arusha, Tanzania

Smallholder farmers are an

the sector in the country. We hope

tel/fax: +255 272544568

example of how hard work and

you enjoy our other insight stories

email:info@taha.or.tz

persistence contribute to the

www.taha.or.tz

on the increasing value of solar to

success of any business. As a

farmers and its impact beyond light,

way to highlight their efforts,

the write up on the first propagation

we bring you their stories of

lab in Tanzania by Mr. Mushobozi

perseverance, motivation and

and so many more, all enclosed

hard work that we are featuring

within our 4th issue of Horticulture

in our series of success stories

in Tanzania magazine.

Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA)

GRAPHICS & DESIGN Bakari. R. Kacheuka

in this issue.

P.38

6

their

farmers

These are the stories that motivate

in

PUBLISHER

with

to

is

P.12

P.33

8

MITI MINGI Enabling Agriculture through seedlings

10

BEAUTY WITHOUT THE BEAST Bio Intensive Crop Protection

12

SUCCULENT BLOOMS The Story of the Oasis Young Plants Cuttings

14

SOLAR More than light to Farmers

18

UNIVERSITY YOUTH On Horticulture, Food & Income Security

24

HOW ADOPTION OF VEGETABLE – MAIZE INTERGRATION Makes A Difference

26

THE MINGAS’ Retirement Dream of Commercial Farming

28

MUSHOBOZI On His First Tanzanian Propagation Lab

33

HERMETIC STORAGE TECHNOLOGY The Post Harvest Loss Solution

34

TAHA INFORMATION SYSTEMS (TIS) The Phone Application Lifting The Horticulture Industry

37

MATILDA’S Backyard Success with Capsicum Farming

38

TONNES OF SUCCESS FOR MOZA Rijk Zwaan’s Red Jet Velvet Green Pepper

40

7

Vegetables proven to be a profitable business Half an acre can make a difference

income from growing vegetables, he did not pay much attention to proper planning and production practices. However, the training provided by WorldVeg and HORTI-Tengeru, which focused on nursery management, good agricultural practices and postharvest handling of vegetable crops, changed his view of vegetable production. “Previously I did not considered market needs, I did not used any improved vegetable varieties, and I did not take care of proper sowing, transplanting, mulching or the timely use of appropriate fertilizers and pest control measures,” he said. “However, the training opened my eyes. I am now using a proper crop rotation, I use improved tomato, Ethiopian mustard, amaranth, and African nightshade varieties given to me by the project, and I certainly take care to apply good management practices. For example, during the last agricultural season [2016], due to changing my vegetable production approach, I was able to cover all inputs costs for my tomato plot (0.5 acres) such as pesticides, fertilizers and labor from a weekly sale of leafy vegetables (Ethiopian mustard), which was roughly TSH 60,000 [US$ 30)].”

Despite the dry weather, in August 2016 Mr. Mwinyijuma harvested 60 crates of tomatoes from a half-acre of land and sold 50 crates for TSH 40,000 [US$ 20] each, generating a total revenue of TSH 2 million [US$ 1,000]. During the same season, he harvested 86 bags of maize from 7 acres of land, of which he sold 60 bags at the farm gate for TSH 45,000 [US$ 22.5] per bag, generating a total revenue of TSH 2.7 million [US$ 1,350]. Three crops (maize, Ethiopian Mustard and tomato) provided him with a total revenue of almost US$ 2,700, in addition to the supply of maize and vegetables for household consumption. A little over a half-acre of land cultivated with vegetables provided Mr. Mwinyijuma with almost the same revenue he made from seven acres of land cultivated with maize.

“From the agribusiness training I learned to invest part of my revenues,” Mr. Mwinyijuma said. “I have already invested TSH 560,000 [US$ 300) from my vegetable sales to buy a 2-inch water pump, which simplifies irrigating and will enable me to grow more vegetables in the next season.” He smiled and said: “And I also bought a motorbike with that money.”

M

r. Mwinyijuma Bakari Kimweri is 51 years old and has been a vegetable farmer in Kaloleni village, Kiteto district, Manyara region in Tanzania for more than 14 years.

He is among the 3,000 vegetable farmers who benefited from the partnership of the Africa RISING, NAFAKA and TUBORESHE CHAKULA programs for fast-racking delivery and scaling of agricultural technologies in Tanzania.

Although Mr. Mwinyijuma had been generating a small amount of additional

8

After realizing how profitable it is to take vegetable production seriously, Mr. Mwinyijuma now has a more optimistic outlook for the future of his farm.

Profitability for integrated maize-tomato production for Mr. Mwinyijuma Bakari Kimweri in 2016 Crop Area (acres) Harvest Con-sumed Unit Conver-ted Sold Price/unit Revenue to kg in TZS Maize 7 70 10 bag 100 60 45,000 2,700,000 Tomato 0.5 55 7 crate 45 50 40,000 2,000,000 Ethiopian 0.06 2,500 100 bunch - 2,400 200 480,000 mustard Total Actual Revenue 5,180,000 Revenue per acre Maize (April - August 2016) 385,714 Tomato (April - August 2016) 3,200,000 Ethiopian mustard (April - August 2016) 7,680,000

Revenue in USD 1,350 1,000 240 2,590 193 1,600 3,840

9

decided in 2016 to transfer the

seedlings

production of seedlings for their

increment in line with the market

respected

Miti

demand. Demonstration plot have

Mingi Nurseries. The investment

also been set up to allow farmers

in the right equipment and the

see first hand the benefits of quality

partnership and since thrived and as

seedlings.

customers

to

of today, Miti Mingi is perfectly able to produce seedlings in a special

with

prospects

of

Tissue Culture

potting mixture, which creates the

In the new year of 2017, Miti Mingi

best circumstances for seeds to

Nurseries is launching a brand

germinate.

produced

new venture of setting up a Tissue

include those of Cucumber, Tomato,

Culture Tanzania Laboratory. This

Cabbage, Sweet Pepper, Chili etc.

will enable the production of large

Seedlings

quantities of virus and disease free

MITI MINGI

IS ENABLING AGRICULTURE THROUGH SEEDLINGS Miti Mingi Nurseries was established at Mbosho, 25 kilometers from Moshi, on the slopes of the Kilimanjaro. It’s a perfect area to develop the right conditions for growing seedlings, which Miti Mingi staff has done successfully now since 2008.

There are several advantages for

planting material for crops such as

purchasing your seedlings abound

banana, cassava and sweet potato.

which include time saving, low

We are very excited about this new

transplanting

venture and hope to welcome many

losses

and

crop

uniformity. Whereas Miti Mingi can

of you as our customers.

be a facilitator in the purchasing of seeds, they too accept seeds being

Miti mingi is honored to have

conventional seedlings will take

brought to their lab and assisting

recently joined TAHA as members,

many years to start producing. The

in growing them on a customer’s

and are excited about the new

uniformity of your plantation is also

behalf.

partnership and are looking forward

much improved if grafted seedlings are used.

to a positive cooperation with all The current annual capacity of

members.

the vegetable nursery is 500,000 With the capacity to produce up to 100,000, Miti Mingi Nurseries Ltd has been able to graft fruit seedlings in a year with mango varieties such as of Tommy Atkins, Kent, Keith, Pavin and others. Avocados biggest demand is for Hass variety and Fuerte respectively.

Tree Seedlings Miti Mingi was not always a Nursery for all types of seedlings, like it is now. At the start, like the name mentions in Kiswahili, Miti Mingi was focused on trees. It was the time that the company expected strong efforts towards forestation in the areas around Kili and Meru. It thus anticipated to nurture growing indigenous tree seedlings and to make its expertise to provide others with

10

excellent

source

material.

However, these efforts did not

mangoes, avocados and citrus was

materialize fully, amongst other

on the rise. The growth since then

Vegetable seedlings

reasons because of an economic

has been steady and today, Miti

About one year ago, Miti Mingi

crisis.

Mingi is perfectly equipped and has

partnered with Rijk Zwaan/Afrisem

amassed great knowledge on how

for a small variety trial about

to grow and deliver high volumes

Vegetable seedlings. It should be

And so, fortunately, the focus

of consistent, quality fruit tree

mentioned that in many countries

shifted towards the production

seedlings.

around the world, hybrid vegetable

Fruit Tree Seedlings

of improved, grafted fruit tree seedlings which management had

There are numerous advantages of

prior great expertise with in growing

grafted seedlings with the biggest

different varieties and grafting as

one regarding their early fruit

demand for grafted seedlings of

production as early as in their 2nd or 3rd year after planting, whereas

seeds are more easily accepted if the Seed house can produce the seedlings or facilitate the production of the seedlings. It is based on Miti Mingi’s excellent reputation, that Rijk Zwaan/Afrisem

11

IPM programmes which have been

Tanzanian cuttings - a cut above the

intensive IPM programmes in East

been banned by the EU Commission

developed in Kenya, where Real IPM

rest of the world

Africa. This could be a significant

and the also in the USA. Why is this?

has a production base for a range of predatory mites and bio-pesticides made

from

bacteria.

natural

fungi

and

The successful Kenyan

experience of rose farmers is being rolled out in Tanzanian in companies such as Mount Meru Flowers, where

General Manager, Roddy Benjamin, is ensuring that they are able to meet the quality standards without excessive use of chemicals. It is a common observation that as fewer chemicals are applied to roses, the stems are longer and the head size is bigger.

Beauty

Tanzania boasts a developing seed production business.

such as East West Seed (Tanzania)

without the Beast

By Louise Labuschagne

Sticky traps in roses greenhouse

T

he

Tanzanian

Companies

Ltd producing marigold seeds are starting to find that bio-pesticides have something to offer in their quest to improve crop protection.

Resistance to chemical pesticides is a formidable problem globally and bio-intensive IPM is a useful resistance management tool.

Flower

for Real IPM Tanzania and Sam

Industry is set to flourish

Ngugi the Technical Manager for

as it takes up more bio-

Real IPM Kenya, to ensure that their

intensive crop protection

staff know how to use biological

programmes, made possible by the

alternatives to chemical pesticides

Registration in Tanzania of well

and still meet the quality and

proven bio-pesticides and predatory

yield targets. Real IPM has had the

mites. Integrated Pest Management

support of the Tanzanian Regulators,

programmes designed to reduce

who recognise the importance to

Why are some customers demanding

chemical inputs will help farmers

the Tanzanian Export Horticulture

a reduction in pesticide use on

counter the effects of resistance

industry of having alternatives to

flowers and plant cuttings, which

to chemicals and comply with

chemicals readily available. This

are not for human consumption?

market demands. TAHA was the first

should be of equal importance

How will the producer be able to

organization to hold numerous talks

on the local fruit and vegetable

rise to this challenge?

with the government from as early

markets in Tanzania.

important commercial questions,

as 2007 and facilitated trials and its due to these efforts that enabled

Whilst flowers are not consumed, the

the registration bio pesticides.

export markets are demanding lower

The Tanzanian rose and cuttings industry has been working with Gideon Ringo, Technical Manager

12

chemical residues. Some groups of pesticides such as neonicotinoids are banned by customers. Leading Tanzanian companies are adopting

T

he

cutting

industry

in

Real IPM Tanzania in 2016 heralds a more significant opportunity for Tanzanian flower farmers to follow suit. Beauty without the Beast.

These are

which are ignored at our peril. If the producer is going to maintain market share and gain access to discerning markets, this is not the

advantage

for

the

Tanzanian industry, able to use

Tanzania

holistic, affordable, prophylactic,

has established a good

bio-intensive IPM programmes.

reputation for high quality

The cuttings themselves are not

ornamentals markets around the

the final end product, since they

world. Much overseas investment

will be potted up on arrival in the

has empowered Fides (Tanzania)

EU and grown on into either pot

Ltd, Multiflower (Tanzania) Ltd and Dekker Bruins Ltd which have established nurseries near Arusha with easy access to air freight, experienced staff and input suppliers. These Tanzanian subsidiaries of well-respected European based companies have a greater ability to use cost effective bio-pesticides than their mother companies because of the local availability of affordable biopesticides and more than a decade’s commercial experience of bio-

Neonicotinoids threaten biodiversity

T

here

cuttings for the pot plant and

plants for decoration in houses or as transplants in cut-flower production greenhouses. Bees are not used to pollinate the cuttings and neither are bees present in domestic houses or the greenhouses where the cut flowers are later grown on in the EU. However, the customers of the EU

is

overwhelming

scientific evidence1 that the residues of neonicotinoids in pollen and seeds end

up in the insects such as bees that feed on the pollen of plants treated with neonicotinoids. Dust created during drilling of seeds treated with neonicotinoids also contains harmful residues of neonicotinoids whilst just a few seeds treated with neonicotinoids and eaten by birds can kill them.

pot plant and cut flower producers

It’s

have demanded that neonicotinoid

devastating effect on bees but also

pesticides are no longer used

1 https://www.soilassociation.org/media/4779/ myths-and-truths-about-neonicotinoids-bee-coalition.pdf 2 https://www.foe.co.uk/news/5-rea-

at any stage in the production including the production of cuttings in Tanzania.

not

just

because

of

the

2

Neonicotinoids have « Continued to Page 36

Gro-Plus

Seed treatment phosphate fertiliser

This all means a better return on investment. The establishment of

competitive

production

Up to

30%

Higher Yields • Easy to apply seed treatment Phosphate starter fertilizer for a range of field crops • Can be used alongside normal fertilizers, manure and compost • Leads to earlier germination and improved root structure

Realipm @Realipm

time for the ostrich to put its head

A member of Biobest group

For more information

in the sand.

Real Solutions | Real Farming

Contact: (+255) 757 053 012 | (+254) 725 806 086

Visit: www.realipm.com

13

Cover Story Christine Brandsma and Rene Kleinveld established the Oasis Young Plants greenhouses farm located near Moshi, Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania in 2008. Prior to that they first visited Ethiopia scouting for land to set up a flower farm. They were discouraged by the political state of the country then and the unsuitable weather conditions. A friend mentioned the possibility of Northern Tanzania and they planned a trip – they were charmed, it was the perfect fit they were looking for in terms of climate and logistics. And as they say, the rest is history.

I

t would take them 2 and half

The succulents including Rhipsalis,

space in Arusha that was being

years before they found a proper

Haworthia, Echeveria, Crassula and

demanded back fast before the full

piece of land. Some of the

Peperomia that grow in deserts and

propagation of the succulents and

logistical attributes that made the

the savannah are very low in water

before the Spanish imported ones

location attractive were the vicinity

consumption – a unique selling

were due. However, even with the

of the Kilimanjaro International

point; have various beautiful shapes

well-established infrastructure, it

Airport, availability of labour that

would

greatly

improve the quality

Succulent BLOOMS

By Sandra Kabongoyi

and

brilliant

colours

is still insufficient in meeting their

and an unbeatable

clients’ demands. There is need to

shelf

of the cuttings due to singular

life.

expand. “The demand is bigger than

Whereas

what we can supply,” says Christine.

difficult

propagate

“This is because the products we have are very hard to propagate and we do not have a lot of competitors. Our happy clients are professional growers all around demanding for more.”

and breed,

They will thus take their prior

placement

to

method

and take

in

grow,

bio gradable

a

h o l d e r s

time

long to

used by the employees rather

than

bundle placement as

is

the

Oasis

practice

plants

in Europe; and a great

young has

successfully managed

water supply source for the farm.

to be the only propagators

The borehole that is the main

and breeder of about half of the

source of water is 80 metres deep,

their variety products in the world.

with superb water quality almost comparable to rainwater and thus

The farm is comprised of 4 green

does not require purification before

houses, 2 of which cover one

being used on the cuttings through

hectare each that were imported

a drip irrigation method.

from Spain and another 2 at the back of the farm constructed with

Oasis

14

young

specializes

local materials and mainly steel,

in the production of cuttings of

which combined, cover half a

indoor

production

hectare. The latter constructions of

cycles stretching from 6 months

the two locally made greenhouses

to 2 years, making them unique

were on a crush programme. The

to other flower production cycles.

company had rented greenhouse

plants

plants with

experience of working with local materials to construct their first “Tanzanian made greenhouse” as Rene, the company’s Managing Director, confidently puts it. The irrigation, netting and plastic will be imported but the rest of the materials are going to be locally sourced.

Oasis

Young

Plants

Ltd.

also

propagates orchids. 2008 was the year the orchid market collapsed in Europe due to over production but this too did not deter them. They started small with approximately 200 plants in propagation even after being advised against it

15

by a shareholder. There was an

better equip their employees with

who now better understand the

inquisitive local market that they

basic understanding of personal

importance of the development

tapped into in and around Tanzania

accounts and to be contributing

of children at that level and were

and it paid off. Whereas the concept

partners in the homework studies

happy to show us around the school

of keeping orchids was entirely

of their children. This they achieved

and the activities which the children

new, the Tanzanian women have

through outsourcing of teachers

are involved in.

taken it with pride and this has

from

been a gratifying experience for

Weru secondary school for the

The management of Oasis Young

the organization proprietors who

program run on the premises. The

Plants Ltd. is thankful to the

have built relationships with these

employees are also a part of sports

Tanzania Horticultural Association

amazing women. These clients are a

teams for soccer and volleyball with

(TAHA), which has been of great

part of the minority 2 percent local

encouraged participation as part of

help as advisors in the field of

market of their overall production,

their recreational plan.

labour

the

neighbouring

Weru

laws

and

government’s

legal regulations. They credit it

which leaves the rest 98 percent for Oasis Young Plants Ltd. has put in

as a source of information for

place a strong social community

numerous issues which has been

responsibility

on

indispensable to them especially

employment for the surrounding

education and gives back to the

as foreign investors during the

community

off

community as much as possible

almost 10 years they have been in

with 80 employees, who have

through supporting construction

operation. This has been parcel of

now doubled to 160. 70 percent

of schools and a Church. They have

their long-term sustainability in the

of these are female and 30 male.

also put up a day care school on the

business and has enabled a cordial

This, they regard as their biggest

farm that accommodates twenty

relationship with the environment

achievement - the possibility to

children aged between 2 and 6

they operate in. However, with the

provide employment and be a part

years from 8 to 5pm during the

ongoing

of household income generation

week. This is to support the working

situation

of the surrounding community.

mothers who cannot afford help and

investors, Christine and Rene are

They have also invested in creating

are unable to leave their little ones

a bit skeptical about the future

conducive

environment

at home with no assistance. There

of the business. They are hopeful

for their employees. An example

are two teachers who recently got

that things will get better and the

is the startup of a simple English

a 5-week training from a consultant

investment climate more conducive

and Maths one-hour programme

brought in from Europe. The training

for

in the evenings from 4.30pm, to

gave an evident boost in quality

operation in Tanzania.

export, mainly to Europe.

The

organization having

working

has

created

started

programme

their

unpredictable regarding

continued

political foreign

successful

Please visit our greenhouses near Moshi or our website: www.orchidsinafrca.com | Info: info@orchidsinafrica.com Priscilla: 0672473567 / Christine: 0756730125

SALES OF ORCHIDS, ANTHURIUM, BROMELIA &SUCCULENTS

IN EAST AFRICA

and competence to the teachers

16

17

M

ore than 600 million Sub-Saharan lack

Africans

access

to

electricity. With rapid

population growths, this number can only increase. However, in the past years solar energy has taken off as one of the major alternative energy sources in rural areas. In Tanzania specifically, it is estimated that approximately 80% of the

Mobisol system installation in Tanzania

Solar

MORE THAN LIGHT TO FARMERS

By Peter Kossakowski and Sandra Kabongoyi

population have no access to reliable grid-based

electricity.

However,

only 5% of this vast population is

Mobisol Technicans Training, Tanzania

currently addressed by solutions like off-grid solar power. In order to fill this gap, renewable energy companies have set up offices and stations in and around the country.

One such is Mobisol, a Berlin-based company

offering

low-income

many farmers due to lack of water.

system and Faki has become an

Solar energy has improved certain

exemplary farmer in his community

areas of this challenge by providing

due to his horticultural success and

an alternative source of powering

an inspiration to his community

water pumps in rural areas.

members who come to learn from his farm. Whereas solar energy

customers in developing nations

Faki Hanafi, a commercial farmer at

quality solar home systems that are

is

Umbuji village in Unguja, Zanzibar,

a clean alternative to unhealthy,

use of sun radiation for lighting

10 minutes from Mpapa PTC is

environmentally

households, the main focus for

among many farmers who adopted

expensive fossil fuels. The German

farmers lies on solar powered water

improved

startup that was established in

pumps

utilization of solar energy to pump

the Tanzanian market since 2012

which are becoming more and

water for his 4 acres of farmland on

and has thus far sold more than

more important as rain seasons

which he grows different varieties

50,000 solar home systems in

become more unpredictable and

of vegetables. The farm is stalled

Tanzania. The company has proven

long dry spells of drought more

with solar power irrigation water

common. After adopting improved

harmful,

and

its business model and is happy to

technologies

on

the

mostly

associated

and

irrigation

with

the

systems,

have contributed to a better life of 250,000 Tanzanians.

While travelling around the rural areas of Tanzania, Solar panels are such a common sighting. Solar energy has become a booster to household

run

businesses

and

is now becoming an important aspect for smallholder farmers.

The worldwide climate change is reshaping the life in Tanzania. With recent longer periods of draught leaving many farmer businesses straining

and

with

reported

dramatic decreases in harvests of

18

Mobisol Tanzania, Arusha, Workshop

19

multiple phone charging options.

These systems have been used as sources of income for family businesses and night lighting for vegetable vendors in markets as opposed to early business closure time in the evenings which cuts out the evening after work customers due to lack of lighting. The solar investment is thus worth investing in with its numerous benefits which is greatly facilitated by an affordable payment scheme over 3 years and the guaranty of a high quality product with free installation and maintenance service.

Mobisol has realized the diverse purposes with which solar can be put to use regarding agriculture and is going forward with investing in better technology by setting up a learning research lab that will

technologies

and

realizing

the

production cycles.

various

benefits, Faki invested his profits

NGO’s

and

entered the Tanzanian market to

into the expansion of his plot from

provide these solar lights for a fair

0.4 to 2.43 hectares and started

affordable technology, which has

and affordable price. There have

also started growing different other

been proven to work efficiently and

been great benefits of solar lights

crops such as green pepper.

can be built easily from common

ranging from helping improved

and locally available materials -

lifestyles in rural Tanzanians by

A very basic water pump setup can

a very cost effective method to

getting rid of hazardous kerosene

be a special Direct Current (DC)

dry food for longevity and value

lamps to offering bright light for

water pump, which pumps the water

addition

sale.

reading and studying at night. The

from a well to a storage tank only

Examples of these on the Tanzanian

government of Tanzania (e.g. TBS,

when the sun is shining or, when

market are dried fruit of mangoes,

TRA) has also been instrumental

batteries are connected to enhance

bananas,

Orange

in the solar energy movement by

more capacity at night, especially

Fleshed Sweet Potatoes (OFSP) and

fighting against counterfeit products

for wells with slow flow rates. This

so many others. With a longer shelf

and allowing the importation of high

combined with an irrigation system

life of dried fruit, the farmer is thus

quality solar products VAT-free.

(either solar powered or simple

less dependent on special harvest

drip technology) creates a perfect

seasons and post harvest losses.

coconut

before

and

and secure solution for small - and

Running by the “Best Life. Best Solar” slogan,

Mobisol’s

biggest

large-scale farmers and enables

system provides enough energy

the farmer a more reliable source

been in the Tanzanian market for

to power multiple lights, a home

in comparison to grid power and

a long time and are widely spread

entertainment

thus better chances of consistent

and common. Over the past years,

32’’ TV, a Subwoofer, haircutter and

20

encourage production of improved

and test it and its feasibility in the

and more efficient water pumps,

Tanzanian context with the hope

irrigation systems, egg incubators

of helping more farmers such as

and agro-processing machinery for

Faki on achieving their dreams of

the East African audience especially

becoming the leading horticulture

in rural areas where electricity is

businessmen as Faki happily states

rare and even if available, highly

of his future plans.

unreliable. The new lab will work

Sola bora, maisha bora

Pata mtambo wa sola wenye nguvu zaidi _ 0800 755000 Bure

✔

TEKNOLOJIA BORA kutoka Ujerumani

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NI RAHISI: Lipia kidogo kidogo hadi miaka 3 umiliki sola yako

solar

Solar lights and lanterns have

system

on only solar powered technology

companies

Solar drying is also a simple and

purposes

focus on working on projects to

including

Tunapatikana mikoa ya Arusha, Manyara, Kilimanjaro, Tanga, Pwani, Singida, Tabora, Dodoma, Mwanza, Shinyanga, Geita, Mara, Kagera, Simiyu, Mbeya, Songwe, Njombe Rukwa, Iringa na Ruvuma.

karibu@mobisol.co.tz www.mobisol.co.tz mobisoltanzania

21

AgroZ ® is the umbrella brand for all products dedicated to Agriculture and Horticulture, which are manufactured by A to Z Textile Mills Ltd. and Polyfoam Ltd., based in Arusha, Tanzania. ®

®

Net

AgroZ® Net is recommended for building low cost GREEN-HOUSES and NET-HOUSES that helps to increase vegetable yields up to 40%, while reducing pesticides use up to 80%.

AgroZ®Net is a High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) net for microclimate modification and the exclusion of insect pests in the protected cultivation of horticultural crops – vegetables, fruits and ornamentals.

AgroZ® Net comes in two mesh sizes of 0.4 mm and 0.9 mm.

AgroZ® Net 04 is recommended for use in Tomatoes, Sweet Pepper, Cucumber and all seedlings production. It is also recommended for use in Brassicas (Cabbages, Broccoli, Pak Choi, etc.), other Leafy Vegetables, French Beans and Watermelon

®

Shade Net

AgroZ® Shade Net providing 55%, 75% and 90% shade are used in ornamental horticulture, coffee seedling production and in vegetable production.

AgroZ® Shade Net comes in a roll size of 2 m x 100 m

®

Crate

AgroZ® Crates are Stackable, Nestable, Strong and durable, made from food grade HDPE plastic.

Treated for UV protection.

Weighs 2 kg when empty.

External dimensions are: L 63 cm x W 38 cm x H 30 cm.

Can carry 18 kg of French Beans or 25 kg of Tomatoes.

AgroZ® Crates come in many basic colors.

Bag

AgroZ® Bag is a water-resistant and gastight storage solution for a vast range of dry agricultural commodities. It comes with an inner liner and an outer woven polypropylene (WWP) raffia sack. Made of multi-layer barrier prpperties, it preserves commodities for a long period of over a year without the risks of moisture gain, post-harvest storage infestation and fungal growth.

AgroZ® Bag stops mold growth, decreases food losses and aflatoxin contamination.

AgroZ® Bag is recyclable and pesticide-free hermetic storage technology, that preserves the quality and germination capacity of stored grains.

AgroZ® Bag is recommended for the storage of all grains and pulses, primarily: Maize, Dry Beans, Peas and also Rice, Sorghum, Millet, Soybeans, Seeds, Wheat, Cocoa, Coffee, etc.

AgroZ® Net 04 and 09 comes in a roll size of 5.5 m x 30.0 m.

AgroZ® Shade Net covering a coffee seedlings nursery

Once nested they occupy only 50% space, during transport or storage when empty ®

Ground Cover

AgroZ® Ground Cover is a thick woven plastic cover, treated for the UV protection.

Used for the control of weeds.

Preserves moisture in the soil.

A great tool for fruit and vegetable crops.

Can be used for 3 - 5 years.

AgroZ® Ground Cover comes in a roll size of 1.6 m x 200 m.

Maize, Sorghum and Cow Peas still fresh after 12 months in the AgroZ® Bag

A to Z Textile Mills Ltd.

P.O. Box 945, Arusha, Tanzania - Tel.: +255 788 808 534 / +255 782 800 008 info@azpfl.com - www.azpfl.com

22

By the Farmers’ Side

23

University Youth

in Food & Income Security

job market is not able to absorb

them a practical understanding of

important quality features of their

all graduates released by colleges

operating horticultural businesses.

produce especially size, colour,

and universities every year. Recent

shape, weight and aroma improved

studies have confirmed that about

Through these initiatives, which

significantly and hence command

1,200,000 students graduate from

have

for better farm gate price.

higher

in

more than 5,000 youth, we have

Tanzania annually. From these, only

witnessed escalating numbers of

This season, the group expects to

200,000 are absorbed into formal

youth engagements in horticulture

fetch a farm-gate price of Tshs. 2,400

employment, which is slightly less

production. Some even ditched

/kg in which total revenue will be

than 6% of total graduates annually.

white collar jobs like Ben Mashiba,

Tshs 19,200,000 in just one acre. An

a young entrepreneur from Njiro,

initial investment in this one-acre

In reducing unemployment crunch,

Arusha who resigned from formal

is Tshs 870,000 which is used for

Tanzania Horticultural Association

employment as an Accountant which

land preparation, crop protection,

(TAHA) has been engaging thousands

was earning him a monthly salary of

labor, fertilizer and seedlings. One

of youth in various Universities in

Tshs 800,000 to pursue a tomato

youth is expected to make over Tshs

a bid to unveil to them lucrative

and

production

18,000,000 in one garlic production

self-employment

venture which currently earns him

season and the whole group will

up to 10 times his previous salary in

collectively

learning

available chains.

in

institutions

opportunities

horticulture

Moreover,

TAHA

value has

helped

sweet

TAHA

pepper

to

reach

one month.

income will not only be beneficial to

to the youths, but also the entire

young graduates,

surrounding communities. It will

there are youth

have a multiplier effect to the Dhirim

create employment for

groups

Valley community in uplifting the

themselves and others

were

through

through

engage

their

energy, and

In

youthful

enthusiasm

knowledge

to

commercial

horticulture.

This

that inspired

area economic development level.

various

TAHA promotional

has

The Dhirim Valley initiative is one of many youth initiatives, which

engaged in horticulture

TAHA has started. These initiatives

Universities and Colleges in Arusha,

production such as Dhirim Youth

have managed to change lives

Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro. The

Group

in

of more than 2,000 youths by

use of Practical Training Centers, an

Mbulu; which is enjoying technical,

providing them with reliable and

initiative that TAHA is implementing

marketing and access to finance

sustainable employment through

in collaboration with USAID TAPP,

services from TAHA. The group,

horticulture. These achievements

HORTI Tengeru, Sokoine University

which has 100 young farmers, owns

are attributed to US Government

of

achieved

programs

through

participating in Careers Day at

from

Dhirim

valley

and

Kizimbani

120 acres of farmland collectively

support through USAID’s Feed the

Training

Institute

which is committed for production

Future Initiative that has facilitated

in Zanzibar, have been another

of garlic. Initially, productivity used

TAHA to extend its services to

worthwhile platform for meeting

to be 4,000kgs of garlic bulbs per

farmers in horticulture production

young students and graduates.

acre, which gave them an average

areas in the country. Such initiatives

Apart

initiative,

income of Tshs. 8,000,000 per acre.

are becoming more important in

TAHA has deployed more than 50

After receiving technical support

addressing youth unemployment

oung people are in dying need of decent jobs that

B.Sc. Horticulture students from

through intensive practical trainings

challenges as formal employment

will help them realize their aspirations, improve

Sokoine University of Agriculture

in a demonstration plot, production

opportunities are becoming less

their living conditions and actively participate in

(SUA) for field practical trainings

per acre doubled from 4,000 kgs of

and less limited.

economic development of their country. However,

with different companies to give

garlic bulbs to 8,000kgs per acre.

Agriculture

Agriculture

24

addition

and

been

This notion is gradually taking a different turn as good numbers of young people are increasingly defying this common thinking and engaging in commercial horticulture employing youthful energy, enthusiasm and knowledge.

almost

Tshs 2 Billion in one season. This

been challenging them to

Until recently farming undertakings never sounded appealing to youth because traditionally, old people in the villages did farming.

generate

Y

this has not been the case because the Tanzania

from

the

PTC

After TAHA interventions, some

25

TSH 200-300 per bundle. This brought him an additional profit of TSH 330,000 [USD 157] after harvesting maize, when the land usually is left fallow.

“Last year (2015) was a bad year with very low maize yields due to a severe drought. But the vegetables contributed a lot to our household income and consumption. And this actually brought my attention to the fact that vegetables can do, what cereal crops might not, namely, to gain yields in times of climate variability” said Mr. Puputo. For

Make a difference:

Adopt vegetable-maize integration

“

When the AVRDC/ HORTI Tengeru team delivered the training in our village last year, I thought of adopting the practices taught and the varieties given by the project. And I did. No farmer in our village has ever tried integrating maize with vegetables. I did and it turned out to be very successful. I could contribute more vegetables to feed my family and I sold a lot,

26

too. Even that much that I don’t need to weed my fields anymore since I can pay others to do it for me” says an old man, Mr. Omary Puputo with a wide smile on his face. He is the chairman of the farmer group in Sunya village that has been trained under the Africa RISING-NAFAKA partnership project for fast tracking delivery and scaling of agricultural technologies in Tanzania.

Mr. Puputo is an energetic old man aged 69-years. From the varieties introduced by AVRDC, Mr. Puputo integrates amaranths (Madiira I), African nightshade (Nduruma) and jute mallow (SUD 2) into his one acre maize field. In the first season, he integrated African nightshade in his maize field and harvested 1600 bundles, of which his household and neighbors consumed 300 bundles and 1300 bundles were sold for

the new season (2016), Mr. Puputo planted even three leafy vegetables encouraged by the last years’ results. On another one-acre plot he planted amaranth, African nightshade and jute mallow together with maize. While leaving one-meter space between the maize rows, Mr. Puputo has sown two rows of one of the leafy vegetables Mr. Puputo has been a beneficiary and became a strong disseminator of the trained technologies in his village. “Improved varieties and agronomic practices changed my normal way of farming and from now on, I know how to utilize my resources better than before. Before the training, I used to sow the seeds rampantly and transplanted without considering spacing or other

Crop

Season

Nightshade

2015

Amaranths

Harvested (bundles)

Consumed Revenue (bundles) (TSH)

Status

1600

300

330,000 complete

2015/16

600

100

100,000 in the field

Jute mallow

2015/16

200

50

30,000 in the field

Nightshade

2015/16

260

60

40,000 in the field

2660

510

Total

510,000 (US $ 243)

Table 1: Summarizing Mr. Puputo’s additional profits from vegetable/maize integration.

agronomic practices. However, very soon after applying the skills taught during training, I could see the difference” Mr. Puputo said.

Mr. Puputo and other farmers from Sunya village who participated in the AVRDC/ HORTI Tengeru training also started to reproduce the varieties handed out to them by the project team. He and other members of the training group do not only share some of their seeds with others, they also teach them how to grow and reproduce the seed for their own production. Since the demand for new varieties and high quality seed is still very high in most of the nine pilot villages located in Babati, Kiteto and Kongwa Districts, the project team decided to establish

with the farmer groups new demonstration plots that mainly aim to reproduce more seeds for farmers. Farmers can reproduce those varieties scaled out by AVRDC/HORTI Tengeru for at least 4-5 seasons.

This scaling project has brought success to Mr. Puputo and supports other vegetable growers in Manyara, Dodoma, Morogoro and Iringa Regions.

Since October 2014, the project team has introduced vegetables best practices and improved vegetable varieties to 12 villages in the four regions, trained 381 farmer trainers and provided almost 1,000 farmers with AVRDC vegetable seed packs of improved varieties ready to be grown for home consumption and for sale in local and regional markets.

27

Law from the USA, and a Diploma in Taxation, she eagerly says she looked forward to retirement and working on something with which she

would

involve

her

whole

family. A mother of 3, Patience has made sure that they are all a part of the commercial farming business, with her husband taking lead role as the farm manager and residing on the premises located in Mungushi village Bwawani about 35 kilometers from Arusha.

The family traditionally grew maize and beans; and kept the practice for purposes of keeping the farm active during the planning process of what crops to plant and technicality understandings towards bringing the farm to life - her dreams

After

The Mingas

Before

“I have acquired

enough experience and I don’t worry about my second season.”

28

P

materialized

into

reality.

The traditional growing methods were

seasonal,

however,

they

understood that to successfully cultivate the land, they would have to make investments that would be beneficial even in off seasons.

Through TAHA, Patience Minga was introduced to some input providers

We Are Living Our Retirement Dream atience

have

such as Wade Rain with whom she was able to acquire a comprehensive irrigation system. She expressed

Minga

joined

11 tonnes were produced, 4 of which

her sincere gratitude towards the

commercial farming after

were rejects. The income garnered

Wade Rain. Mrs. Minga management

30 years in civil service.

totaled to 4.9 million Tanzanian

and especially the General Manager,

She was employed first

shillings. Her future dreams are of

Brittany, who was able to make

with the government and later

increasing the farming cultivation

several trips to the farm and give

joined Tanzania Revenue Authority

activity to 50 acres of the 100 acres

advice regarding the successful,

from 1996 to 2014 where she was

owned by the family and the rest

set up of the now functional drip

based in Arusha and Kilimanjaro

50, rented out.

irrigation system. The farm started

regions. The 100-acre farm is part of the family business and retirement

Patience,

a

plan for the Minga couple, having

keeps laughing cheerfully during the

acquired the property 12 years ago

interview when she mentions her

in 2004. Cultivation is currently

billionaire dreams of horticulture

being carried out on only 3 acres for

farming.

watermelon production from which

honors degrees in Management and

A

playful

graduate

63-year-old

with

two

commercial cultivation and picked a short season crop of watermelons, which were harvested after 5 months with great success. Where as Patience, mentions that they encountered post harvest losses, she insists that they were minimal

and did not affect the overall return

as Wade Rain and the agronomic

on investment.

assistance received from TAHA as some of the secrets to her current

Commercial farming has not come

success.

easily to Patience and her family and says that it has not been easy

Minga’s journey began with a visit

to cope with the changes that they

to Farmer’s Day Exhibitions (Nane

experience basing on their past

Nane) a national annual event that

backgrounds. “ We are still in the

is dedicated to farmers and their

learning process regarding farming.

plight in the contribution to the

We have had big changes from our

economy of the country. She visited

former professions for myself and

different service provider booths

for my husband who is an engineer.”

but what particularly impressed her

she says. She credits having the right

was TAHA’s stall; where her farming

people with the right expertise such

ambitions were encouraged and

29

Complete

IRRIGATION Solutions Drip Complete line of drip equipment including tape, emitterline and a new Lay Flat surface supply hose that eliminates trenching in the field.

Greenhouse & Nursery

several

terminologies

regarding

explanation I knew that nothing

and I don’t worry about my second

good

agricultural

practices

was going to stop me from reaching

season.”

explained to her, which she currently

my goals.” She said happily. She

applies on her farm. The learning

praises The Tanzania horticultural

There have been some unavoidable

process was solidified and the ball

Association (TAHA) for assisting her

challenges, one of which was the

set in motion for her billionaire

in various activities in her farming

price fluctuations of watermelons.

farming dreams which she is still

activities and their help especially

After harvest, the prices were low

working upon with great belief that

during the first year of production.

leading to low margin returns

they will come true.

Assistance regarding the kind of

in comparison to their expected

watermelon seeds to use, sending

returns. Another major challenge is

“I can’t forget that day when I went

agronomists to assist where she

the scarcity of water in and around

to Nane Nane, at the TAHA’s booth.

was unsure and encouraging her

the village the farm is located.

I learnt so much on horticulture

every step of the process until the

They have had to drill through the

and that was the trigger. I had been

final stage. She goes on to say, “I

ground for a water source from

hesitant but after that exposure and

have acquired enough experience

which water is pumped overnight

30

Pressure compensating, self-cleaning drip emitters for easy operation.

Overhead jets & sprays also available.

Poweroll Labor-saving semi-automated overhead sprinkler system for all types of terrain and soil.

Micro Micro sprinklers for orchard irrigation.

Full-Service Warehouse in Arusha

Wade Rain East Africa Ltd.

Located along the Moshi-Arusha Hwy, Makumira Area Usa River, ARUSHA

bdouglas@waderain.com | +255 756 640 069

www.waderain.com 31

MR. MUSHOBOZI’S FIRST OF A KIND CROP PROPAGATING LAB IN TANZANIA

By Zephania Ubwani

A into the 20,000-liter tanks and then

but this too is costly. Her faith has

dispersed to the farm through the

not faltered as she plainly states that

drip irrigation system. The water

each business has got its challenges

system has been effective, thanks to

and these are hers; with her advice

Wade Rain’s tireless input but also,

to other farmers particularly the

it has been expensive. This too has

ones in the horticulture industry

faced shortcomings from the lack of

being on keeping the faith and

grid electricity and the farm solely

having belief in what they are doing

relies on a generator for electricity.

and keeping their dreams alive.

There is the wild life of dik diks in

Minga

the area that destroy crops planted.

government to help farmers within

She plans on fencing off the farm to

the sector,

avoid theft cases and trespassers

also

calls

upon

the

Government should have more input, by investing in farmers like us who can contribute a lot to the nations economy in a very short time. They should finance us, educate the younger farmers, and they should reduce the importation duty on different agriculture inputs.

Minga concluded.

32

t his modern lab facility in Kisongo on the outskirts of Arusha on the Dodoma road, is a farm expert keen to unlock the agricultural potential of Tanzania. The ambitious Crop Bioscience Solutions Limited programme was first licensed in Dec. 2011 as the first commercial crop biotech company in Tanzania applying biotechnology techniques for mass multiplication of vegetative propagated crops to farmers. In operation since 2012, the proprietor Mr. Mushobozi believes that the establishment is very central and vital to the country’s needs to improve the management of agricultural production in order to address the problem of food insecurity and rural poverty by unlocking agricultural potential through the application of biotechnology along with principles and methods of crop production.

Wilfred Mushobozi is no new comer to the agricultural sector. Until 2006, he worked as the National Army Worm Forecaster/ National coordinator for the ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives.

He decided to leave after15 years and establish Eco Agri Consultancy Services Limited – a consultancy firm with four main areas of focus on capacity building, research, agri-

business and farm management that would look into the problems affecting the agriculture sector in Tanzania. Whereas consultancies were not deemed viable in agriculture, with his expertise he decided try it, after identifying a niche in the agricultural market and is happy with the success it has garnered.

Most of the consultancy work carried out includes collaborations with the horticultural sub sector mainly managed by commercial farmers, including investors from outside the country with most of the horticultural farms concentrated around Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions.

Crops being propagated are bananas, cassava, orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, coffee and strawberries. “This is a commercial biotechnology facility. We produce on mass scale vegetative plantlets applying bio-tech techniques for mass multiplication of diseasefree, true-to-type elite clones of vegetative propagated crops which we then sell to farmers through the Tanzania Horticulture Association (TAHA) and other stakeholders”, Mushobozi explains. The mass seeds result in high production yields thus high revenue for the farmers.

The labs, which bear hallmarks of

a modern high tech facility, are located at Loovilikuny-Kisongo CMC. The centre is well equipped with necessities of biotechnology surrounding requirements; inoculation room, culture transfer room, sterilization area, washing area and growth room, is fitted with automated temperature and humidity regulators. The tissue culture labs with a diagnostic centre and nurseries are built on a two-acre piece of land. The technology touches different sectors of knowledge regarding agriculture and a collection of techniques used to maintain or grow plant cells, tissue culture or organs under sterile conditions on a nutrient culture medium.

Plant tissue culture applied at Mr. Mushobozi’s Crop Bioscience Solutions lab is widely used to produce clones of a plant in a method known as micro propagation.

Different techniques in plant tissue culture may offer certain advantages over traditional methods of propagation. These include the production of exact copies of plants that produce particularly good flowers, fruits or have other desirable traits, to quickly produce mature plants and the production of multiples of plants in the absence of seeds or necessary pollinators to produce seeds. The company CEO explained and emphasized that the centre is targeting smallholder, medium and few commercial farmers.

Since establishment, about a quarter a million farmers have been reached from Bukoba in the Lake Zone, mostly for distribution of coffee and sweet potato plantlets propagated at the centre. Other zones where the company has presence are central, northern, southern highlands and Zanzibar. The organization has been working with the district councils, the agricultural extension officers and collaborating with the Tanzania Coffee Research Institute (TACRI) at Lyamungo in Kilimanjaro, TAHA and RECODA (Research, Community and Organizational Development Associates, an NGO based in Arusha) to reach as many farmers as possible.

33

HERMETIC STORAGE TECHNOLOGY (HST) The Post Harvest Loss Solution.

The hermetic storage bag technology preserves dried cereals without the use of any pesticide dust. Statistics collected

by USAID KAVES and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries confirm that current levels of postharvest losses are at least 15 percent in strategic maize production zones and much higher in some of the food insecure areas. The Hermetic bag is safe, affordable for the on-farm storage and allows small-scale farming families to keep grains year-round for household consumption while providing them with a marketable asset in case of emergency.

their sub-contractors Rural Urban Development Initiatives (RUDI) & BRITEN. The initiative is expecting an overwhelming response through these

promotion

activities

and

the financing options to the AgroDealers launched by the Equity Bank with funds from AGRA. Monolayer vs. Multilayer Liner: The hermetic storage technology (HST) bag consists of an inner liner(s) and a woven polypropylene (WPP) outer bag for protection.

There are two technologies for the manufacturing of HST inner liners: The monolayer, which consists of one layer and only one compound, can be used for extrusion. Normally

H

HDPE (high density poly ethaline)

How the bags should be stored

is used which is opaque and brittle.

ow it works: Once closed

Recommended crops for storage

It breaks with impact and repeated

as

latest technology and the HST bag

produce. Farmers also get better

material such as wood splinters or

requires just one multilayer liner to

market acceptance by the buyers

crop residues which could damage

be effective.

if their grains are not treated with

the liner, before storing in the HST

pesticide dust and are not infested.

bag and the inner liner should not

Benefits of using the HST bags Better

Margins:

be perforated or damaged when

Hardworking

Food Security: Farmers can store

farmers and their families do not

their grains at home without any

have to sell all the grains and pulses

worries of post-harvest damages

in a hurry at the time of harvest and

and use their harvest when they

get the minimum prices, but store

need for their family, instead of

them in the HST bags and sell them

buying from shops at a higher price

later as the market prices go up to

later. It would revive the granary

increase their margins.

concept, back at homes, that seems

No loss of weight during storage: There is no moisture gain or loss

to have extinct with the small hold farmers over the years.

acquiring it or before reuse.

The bags should not be washed or perforated. There should be no addition of any pesticide dust to the grains stored in the HST bag.

Store the bags in a cool, dry place and wherever possible, preferably on a pallet. Avoid exposure to direct sun. If the grains are already treated with pesticide dust before storage,

when dried grains and pulses are

Food Safety: Since no pesticides

expose them to the sunlight till the

stored in the HST bags, which

are used for storage, food prepared

pesticide dust effect is minimized

normally happens in WPP bags and

from these grains and pulses do not

and then store them into the HST

farmers lose 4 to 5 Kgs in weight per

affect the health, hence, provides

bag.

bag.

a healthy body and therefore a

Financial Security & stronger future:

healthy mind.

These additional margins would

Shelf life: The HST bag can be used

make the farmers economically

for a minimum of three seasons,

strong to pay the school fees for

which is much below the cost

their children, medical expenses of

of pesticide dust and the repeat

the family and funds to get seeds

dusting required in 3 to 4 months

& inputs for the next season. Most

for the post-harvest storage.

small holder farmers are forced to sell their produce at the time of harvest at less prices whereas they could sell the same after 3 to 4 months by storing in a HST bag thus ensuring over 67% increased revenue from sale of their stored

Rodents: Normally the rodents do not attack the HST bags as the grains scent is sealed off when bags are secured tightly. Rodents are likely to attack the bags if the grains are spilled on the floor, therefore, the room where the grains are stored, the doors, windows &

Precaution before use: The cereals

eaves must be secured well with

and pulses should be dried to the

a wire mesh. Natural repellants

recommended

are recommended for use to keep

moisture

content

for storage purpose. The harvest

rodents away.

should also be cleaned and sorted

Price: In Kenya The HST bag is

well e.g. to remove stones and other

available to the farmers at KES 250/- for 100kg and KES 150/- for

per

instructions

using HST: MAIZE, BEANS, COW

handling. As one liner does not

50kg.

provided,

oxygen

PEAS, GREEN GRAMS, SORGHUM,

work, the farmers are advised to use

Hermetic

MILLET, CHIC PEAS, and many other

two liners. This is an old extrusion

Bags are available in Tanzania to

cereals.

technology.

the farmers at TZS 4,500/-, on an

grains and pulses from infestation

Availability: In Kenya, the HST bags

The multilayer which consists of

damage that most commonly occurs

are available in more than 600 AGDs

5 or more layers co-extruded and

during post-harvest storage. The

across Kenya and Tanzania. The

blown with multiple compounds

key precaution is to ensure stored

Rockefeller Foundation is funding

and joined together to form one

grains and cereals are dried to the

the PHM program through Alliance

super strong inner liner. It gives the

recommended

for

Africa

best hermetic property in terms

(AGRA) for the Hermetic Storage

of oxygen transmission rate (OTR)

Technology (HST) supported by

and the bag strength. This is the

and

other

gases

are

prevented from entering or exiting the bag thus protects the dried

moisture

(13.5%) before storage.

34

levels

a

Green

Revolution

Storage

Technology

average, across the country

Farmers pose with HST bags

35

Instructions to use: • Place the HST Bag together with the inner liners.

• Pour little quantity of grains and adjust the bag to remove any folds.

• Fill with 100 Kg / 50 kg of the grains to be stored up to 2/3rd of the bag • Remove all air pockets from the top of the liner.

• Twist the remaining part of the inner liner, bend the twisted

inner liner part and close it using a smooth tie.

• The outer bag is also closed in the same way as the inner liners with a smooth tie.

HOW TAHA INFORMATION SYSTEM (TIS) IS LIFTING THE HORTICULTURE INDUSTRY

• Store the closed bags on-farm in a cool and dry place preferably on a pallet.

• The room must be secured from rodents by using mesh on the windows and ventilators.

• When preparing to sell, remove the grains and pulses from the HST bag and pour into WPP bag of 90Kg or 50Kg for transporting into the market.

• Fold the empty HST bag and keep safely for the use in the next season.

Information is power. For a long time horticultural farmers lacked crucial information regarding the horticultural business until TAHA introduced its information system to assist in facilitating and linking farmers to markets and hence improve and encourage their efforts in investing in the horticulture industry.

Farmers line up to buy HTS bags in Kenya

« from Page 13

because of increasing evidence of

Bees make farming profitable so

used chemical group since the

the persistence of neonicotinoids

the rest of the agricultural industry

1990’s3, accounting for 40% of the

in the soil, their solubility in ground

needs to follow carefully how the

global pesticide market. In 2011

water and their effect on a wider

cuttings and flower industry is

neonicotinoids

range of non-target organisms.

reacting to these challenges. What

$2.63 billion to the bottom line

Neonicotinoids

neurotoxins,

are the biological alternatives to

of large agrochemical companies

albeit more specific to insects than

neonicotinoids and how can they

such as Syngenta and Bayer. The

mammals, but recent studies on

be applied effectively to crops to

neonicotinoid

mice reveal that the breakdown

protect them from harmful sap-

market

products of neonicotinoids have

sucking pests?

Are these bio-

the 1990’s to 2008, when this

more of an effect on mammals than

controls compatible with less toxic

additional market contributed some

originally understood.

chemicals? Start asking the right

EUR 957 million by 2008.

questions. Time is not on your side.

consequence of the government

extension

Make sure you have good advisers

bans on these chemicals, these

workers and government regulators

who can answer these questions. It

companies are spending many more

need to be well versed in the risks

is not uncommon for agrochemical

millions of dollars lobbying to have

attached to continued sales of

companies to be the main source of

the ban ‘softened’.

neonicotinoids in Tanzania if they

advice on farms - this is a potential

are to protect Tanzanian bees,

conflict of interest.

Tanzanian

are

farmers,

expanded

treatment

rapidly

from

As a

their best efforts to make a profit

consumers and Tanzanian foreign

Thiamethoxam,

exchange from horticultural exports.

imidacloprid are neoticotinoids and

pesticides.

they have been the most widely

Beast.

36

seed

over

In the end, farmers must use

Tanzanian biodiversity, Tanzanian

sons-keep-ban-neonicotinoid-pesticides

contributed

clothianidin

and

without excessive use of chemical

3

Beauty without the

http://www.tfsp.info/systemic-pesticides/

In the process of identifying challenges amongst horticultural farmers in Tanzania, TAHA realized that, farmers lack information on prices, buyers, logistics, production tips, and these were crucial setbacks for their growth economically. To address the gap, TAHA invented the TAHA Information System (TIS), a horticultural information platform that collects, analyses and disseminates information on prices, buyers, logistics as well as production tips to different users.

Having been launched in 2014, TIS has data enumerators placed in 16 markets covering the potential and consumption zones of Tanzania Mainland, Zanzibar as well as Kenya.

The initiative is today benefiting more than 15,000 farmers who are accessing different horticultural information via their mobile phones through Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD)

technology.

Pamela Lyamuya a Greenhouse farmer who has benefited from the system says she has been able to solve her pricing and buying problems. “It is very easy to use since it enables me to prepare for the market before i harvest and gives me updates on prices and where to sell my crops thus preventing me from over budgeting.” Said Pamela.

Through TIS, many farmers; even those located in remote areas short of electricity and internet have been able to readily avail the information provided by the system rendering it reliable. Adonaya Kilatu from Njombe has been using TIS for the past two years and is glad to have been introduced to the system earlier. It has benefited him with easy access of markets for his harvests. Before TIS, he had to go from one market to another

comparing prices, which has since been solved by the information system service. “Last year (2016) around November I sold 50 cartons of tomato in Dar es Salaam at very good rates by using TIS and made good profit in comparison to the past years where I was selling at our local markets here in Njombe simply because I could not get market information from other places around the country”. Explained Adonaya. For farmers like Adonaya and Pamela the system has been of great assistance to them.

The App is currently undergoing improvements for its identified shortcomings such as responding delays, which range from just a few minutes or to as long as hours. More feature additions in the upgrade will accommodate market and logistics information, agronomic tips, financial and input dealer’s information as well as gender and nutritional tips. There will be additional contact information and not just the phone numbers as these are sometimes unreachable thus email addresses and a website could act as convenient alternatives.

Digitalization of the system to accommodate dissemination of online horticulture farming publications, audio and video clips will also be of added advantage while promoting the system to reach more users of different services in the value chain through various communications channels such as print and electronic media, social media, and bulk messages to create awareness for a wider outreach of more farmers.

With most of farmers depending on one market source TIS will be an alternative source for they have a wider market range to sell and price their produce.

37

my outputs and I was pleasantly

different prices. There are also an

surprised by my profit returns in

increasing number of farmers, which

my first season as it exceeded my

respectively increases demand of

Matilda

thinks

expectations.” Said Matilda.

TAHA’s agronomists thus rendering

should

give

it

smallholder farmers like her. The

difficult

to

get

agronomist

Backyard Success with Capsicum Farming

C

has

who chose to start in 2015 after

Prior to commercial farming, Matilda

become one of the most

receiving her pension benefits. With

was a primary school teacher until

common

lucrative

the help and support of her family,

her retirement in 2005. The dream

commercial

she started small with outdoor crops

to begin Greenhouse farming was

farming in Tanzania. This is mainly

and eventually invested in a green

conceived thereafter but it was not

attributed to the fact that they

house. She capitalized on

until 2015 when she received her

require

her home plot and together

pension that she was able to start.

temperature than tomatoes

with her husband made a

Living in Merit village at Ilboru near

or cucumbers and are less

plan on what they would like

Arusha town, Matilda has maximized

to achieve. More than

the use of her home plot by setting

apsicum

forms

a

growing and of

slightly

warmer

likely to get infested by

Matilda

up her Greenhouse project in the

though they still need

credits the support

backyard. Saying confidently, “I

proper

of her husband as

have enough experience in growing

being of great and

capsicum even though its only my

diseases or pests even preventive

care.

anything,

tremendous help.

second season and this is because in

Ms. Matilda Maida

The

has

my first season I got good assistance

is

been blessed with

from TAHA agronomists who gave

a

determined

55-year-old woman

38

couple

four children.

the

more

government support

to

Matilda earned 6 million from the

assistance on time when there is a

prices

first season of capsicum farming and

problem on the farm. This causes

inputs are very high and if it were

has been able to pay for university

the problem to accelerate where it

not for the help of organization like

education for her daughter. She also

could have been quickly resolved.

TAHA, people would fear to join the

confesses of a better lifestyle at

Matilda’s

her own role model.

of

different

agriculture

horticulture sector. “TAHA advised

home with her husband. Whereas

Matilda has been exemplary to the

me from the very beginning what

the home venture of commercial

community around her and has

I should plant, where I should buy

farming has been a great success,

put her primary school teacher

seeds, how to prepare the farm, how

it faces a huge marketing challenge

experience to teach and encourage

take care of the farm until the last

although TAHA has been helpful

both young farmers and elderly

process of marketing.” Said Matilda.

with market linkage and she was

ones who come to her looking

able to sell her capsicums at a

for advice regarding greenhouse

After her success in capsicum

reasonable price. “TAHA was able

farming. She is very happy with

growing, Matilda is thinking of

to find a good market for me after

her farming practice and hasn’t

building

the first harvest and I was able to

gone a day without food or money

when she gets enough funds in

sell for a very good price but for

for her daily personal errands. She

order to increase crop production

the second harvest the market has

is a role model and someone that

by producing other crops and

not been as good. Hopefully, it gets

other people learn from. She had to

enlarge her business. Matilda’s

better soon,” she says.

garner a lot of determination before

self-employment has given her

she could join commercial farming

financial freedom, and renders the

Certain challenges such as price

and its for that reason and the

support she gets from her husband,

fluctuations have been unavoidable

challenges she has overcome along

extended family and the Tanzania

with

the way that she regards herself as

Horticulture Association invaluable.

every

season

presenting

a

second

Greenhouse

me great guidance. This improved

39

Tonnes of Success from the Red Jet green pepper variety from Rijk Zwaan Rijk Zwaan’s Red Jet green pepper variety has been a successful hit for TAHA member farmers, Moza Khalifan Masoud and Verenenda Baraza.

Moza Khalifan Masoud tonnes) in the first cycle and sold the produce at a farm gate price of 70,000TZS per 100kg, which saw her earning 980,000 TZS. The second cycle is expected to produce approximately 2.8 tonnes.

The harvesting will last at least 9 cycles without droppings, with an expected overall production output of approximately 20 tonnes from the 11,000 plants.

So far, she has incurred 3.5 million TZS as cost of production, inclusive of drip irrigation. With the going

M

price rate, Ms. Moza will be able

oza Khalifan Masoud

community-based facilitator Mr. Ole

to earn 8,820,000 million TZS,

first

TAHA

Lobunguti overlooked the process

however; it should be noted that

Arusha

that eventually produced 12000

Green

2016

seedlings. They were transplanted

expected to rise from the month

requesting for technical assistance.

and after a month, in January 2017

of April to 150,000TZS per 100kgs,

Having decided to put her one-

and a fertilizer program scheduled

raising Ms. Moza’s total earning

acre piece of land at Olasity on the

according to the soil sampling

expectations to 13.5 million TZS.

outskirts of Arusha to farming, she

results.

visited

offices

in

September

pepper

prices

are

also

AD

sought professional assistance on how to go about it. TAHA senior

With an initial

agronomist Loto Simon advised her

investment

to do soil sampling and analysis at

about 10 million

crop nut Nairobi. From the results

for the farm, the

attained, the team decided on

first

harvesting

the production of green peppers;

took

place

the red jet variety whose seeds

March 2017, just

were

66

acquired

from

Rijkzwaan,

days

of

in

after

Afrisem. The seeds were raised in a

transplanting.

commercial nursery located in Usa

Ms.

River, on the outskirts of Arusha

h a r ve s t e d

town with which TAHA partners. The

1400kg

40

Moza (1.4 « Continue to Page 42

41

ÂŤ Continues From Page 40

Verenenda Baraza

V

enerada

Baraza

hails

variety has a 9 cycle harvesting life

from Bagamoyo and first

span and Veneranda has expressed

heard

Red

her gratitude to TAHA for linking her

Jet variety from TAHA’s

with input suppliers such Rijk Zwaan

about

the

agronomists Yusuf Mlisho and Loto

for quality high yielding seeds.

Simon. Having been advised on its positive outputs, she purchased

Ready market being one of the

247 plants from Rijk Zwaan’s shop

biggest challenges being faced

in Bagamoyo. Ms. Baraza who owns

in the horticultural value chain,

3 acres of land transplanted the Red

Veneranda is thrilled to have had

Jet on 24th February 2017, and just

market linkage assistance from

two months after transplanting, on

TAHA which has been able to link

20th of April harvested her first

her to a ready market for her first

produce. Each single plant has

harvest and has so far sold 50 bags

an expected production capacity

at a price of 60,00Tz. She is happy

range of 10 to 15 kilograms which

with the experience so far and is

combined brings her total estimated

optimistic about future prospects

production up to 2470kg (2.4

for her commercial farming venture.

tonnes) per cycle. The green pepper

42

16

43

Inapatikana Madukani

44

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