April 19, 2013

 

 

Tanzania's wheat production in this fiscal year is estimated at 93,000 tonnes while the demand is 608,000 tonnes.

 

Although the country has vast tracts of fertile land for crop cultivation, wheat is grown on only 96,000 hectares which resulted in Tanzania's wheat importation to bridge the deficit between wheat demand and supply.

 

It is understood that Tanzania's agriculture is mainly rain-fed and many of the growers are smallholders who are poorly equipped. Poor investment in rainwater harvesting, irrigation, fertiliser, infrastructure and technical support are constraining farmers including wheat growers.

 

A principal agricultural research officer at the Selian Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), Ibrahim Mamuya, urges the government to promote wheat farming.

 

"Significant investment is required to boost wheat production in southern and northern regions of Tanzania. Value chains should be mapped out and appropriate linkages developed," he said.

 

Mamuya, who is also a plant breeder, said the government and other stakeholders should ensure that seeds of improved varieties are produced and marketed to farmers. Extensive extension services should be made available and farm-to-market value chains developed for wheat producers.

 

A SARI study shows that an average of wheat produced in 2011-12, was 892 kilogrammes per household. It established that 706 kilogrammes were sold and 129 kilogrammes were for domestic consumption.

 

Mamuya said factors that limit wheat production in Tanzania include moisture stress, weed infestation, inefficient delivery of improved technologies to farmers, lack of new materials, drought and continued growing traditional varieties, which often succumb to new diseases.

 

The SARI study has also established constraints to wheat competitiveness as the lack of attention to domestic wheat production by the government, unattractive prices which discourage farmers, restricted market for wheat, which discourages production by smallholders and the lack of interest among millers.

 

However, Ramadhan Shekibula, principal field officer, notes that wheat farmers have to contend with the unavailability of improved varieties, low prices, and inadequate knowledge about pests, disease control, poor management techniques and an unreliable market.

 

"To avoid low price, farmers prefer to sell their produce directly to consumers. This is because farmers are not assured about buyers and prices," he said. Shekibul said local seeds are prone to diseases, have low yields and qualities, subsequently fetching low prices.

 

He hopes that increasing food processing plants will motivate farmers to grow more wheat because the millers will buy their crops.