TZ, Netherlands to collaborate to up potato yield

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania and the Netherlands have agreed to work together to increase productivity in food crops.

Representatives of governments from the two countries reached the agreement after talks held last week in Dar es Salaam in a meeting that was also attended by representatives of the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT).

The Dutch Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Ms Marjolin Sonnema said at the meeting that one area of focus could be helping improve yield of Irish potatoes by smallholders in the country.

“We plan to bring in more quality seed varieties of Irish potatoes and we would also double our efforts in training potato farmers and a range of stakeholders to improve productivity in potatoes yield,” she said.

The assistant director of Crop Development in the ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Mr Beatus Malema said, according to the agreement, the Tanzanian government would focus on improving the physical infrastructure and transportation services potato growing areas.

SAGCOT Centre chief executive officer Mr Geoffrey Kirenga on his part said other issues discussed in the meeting include improving extension services and involvement of institutions dealing with quality control of the crop.

The chairman of the Dutch Horticultural Growers Association, Mr Loek Hermans, said the Dutch delegation visited some parts of Tanzania prior to the meeting and were impressed by the fertility of the land and opportunities in agriculture in Tanzania that are attractive to private investors. He said they were bracing themselves for cooperation with Tanzania because of the many opportunities they have witnessed.