Farmers, experts welcome Yara Kilimo Expo as timely, inclusive knowledge initiative
Zanzibar President Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi tours the Yara demonstration plot at the Dole grounds during Nane Nane exhibition to witness how a range of fertilizers from Yara help farmers raise their productivity and income from better yields
Mbeya. The Yara Kilimo Expo 2023 which kicked off on Monday has seen vibrant dialogue between farmers and experts in the agricultural sector, with participants welcoming the initiative as timely and inclusive.
The event which is Yara Tanzania’s foremost dialoguing and exhibition platform is taking place in Mbeya region ahead of the Nanenane national agricultural show in the city.
Hundreds of farmers drawn from the Southern Highlands regions attended the Expo and received a wide range of agronomic and agri-business knowledge from a team of experts drawn from both the public and private sectors.
Scores of exhibitors also had the opportunity to demonstrate their products and services during the whole week. The Expo comes to close today and organisers indicated it will be a calendar event. They expressed satisfaction with the turnout and the level of engagement that took place.
Interviewed participants said Tuesday’s farmers’ town hall and Wednesday’s high level symposium were particularly engaging and very educative.
A farmer-couple said they had travelled for eight hours from Sumbawanga to attend the event upon hearing an announcement on national television.
“My wife insisted we travel to attend the forum when she had it being announced on television and I am happy that our efforts did not go to waste. We have gained a lot of knowledge from the experts just as we had anticipated,” said Michael Mkini, a maize farmer.
Yohana Nyambo, a farmer from Mbeya shares his views at a farmers meeting during the recently held Yara Kilimo Expo, in Mbeya's Nanenane grounds, on challenges and opportunities in agriculture transformation agenda.
His wife, Margaret, thanked Yara for bring farmers and experts together to exchange ideas on challenged they were facing as communities struggling to improve their crop production and their lives.
“It is true we sacrificed to come here but it was worth it. Many farmers back home would wish to have participated but for lack of means. We urge Yara to work with the government and others to bring such kind of knowledge closer to more people,” Margaret said.
The rich list of panelists who engaged the farmers included Mr Enock Nyasebwa, the Director of Crop Development in the Ministry of Agriculture, the Chief Executive Officer for The Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) Geogrey Kirenga, Dr Hidelitha Msita - Manager, Natural Resource, Management and Agriculture Engineering (TARI), Peter Kazungu - Program Policy Officer.
Farm to Farm Market – WFP, Teofora Madilu - Senior Manager, Agri Business, Equity Bank and Dr Eliener Mwakalapa - Principal of Mbeya University of Science and Technology (MUST). Others were Mbeya Regional Administrative Secretary Rodrick Mpogolo, Yara Commercial Manager Philip Mwakipesile, Yara Chief Agronomist Donath Fungu, Mark Magila from the Agricultural Council and Malembo Lucas of Malembo Farm.
Mr Kirenga said Yara’s initiative would add impetus on campaigns to close the knowledge gap among farmers as one of the biggest setbacks to raising agricultural productivity and denying the country from using its advantage as one of the best crop and livestock production zones in the world.
“Our farmers’ low knowledge on fertilizer use, correct seeds, soil health among other practices is a huge burden that Yara’s initiative will help to tackle. The involvement of the smallholder farmer is welcome,” said Mr Kirenga.
Tanzania, it was heard is not meeting even half of its production potential to awaken its giant as Africa’s food basket. With Yara winning accolades for its empowering approach that combines fertilizer distribution with knowledge acquisition on key aspects of farming such as agronomy, capital, and market off take, partnership, among others.
The farmers were taken through different aspects of their business and shown how to tackle challenges and seize opportunities to turn around their fortunes. In their contributions, the farmers showed eagerness to learn and acquire more skills and knowledge, appealing for more efforts to reach them in the grassroots.
Most farmers said Yara’s range of fertilizers and education on how to apply them had improved the yields of those who use them.
They said the company has demonstrated commitment to empower the smallholder farmers through deeds, and said Yara Kilimo Expo was the latest addition to such efforts.
