By Benedicto Hosea | Project Leader
Since we have been working with PlantVillage and using their Nuru app to test the farms in our community, we have realised that high rates of infestation of pests and diseases is hugely reducing yields, right across Kasulu District and beyond. Without higher yields our community will continue to live in poverty, worried about where the next meal will come from.
Therefore, we have set up 25 demo plots of a total of 46 acres of 3 types of improved cassava, which are both pest and drought resistant, have short growing seasons and high yields. The varieties are Mkumba, Kiroba, and Tari-CAS4, all from Tanzania Agriculture Research Institute (TARI). The local infected cassava our community is currently growing takes 2 to 3 years to harvest between 8 and 20 bags per acre. These improved seeds produce 75 -100 bags after 10 months.
Currently these seeds are not available in Kigoma but we are registering as a certified seed producer with Tosci, so that we will be able to supply the community, as well as setting up a ushirika (growers association) so that farmers will be able to sell the surplus they will produce collectively.
Community farmer groups have been busy weeding and helping monitor the demo plots, and will divide up the harvest from them. We are also testing the soil at each site and noting the rainfall, so we will have a better idea of which types of cassava perform best in different conditions. Local schools are also involved in this experiment.
The whole community is excited by the impact of this improved cassava!
Thank you again for your generosity in supporting us to support our community.
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By Benedicto Hosea | Project Leader
By Benedicto Hosea | Project Leader
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