By Adonis Byemelwa
Shinyanga—Regional Commissioner Anamringi Macha (pictured left) has given the Cotton Board seven days to conduct a thorough inspection of cotton seed quality in the Kishapu District and report back with findings.
The directive issued on Nov. 10, 2024, follows complaints from agricultural officers and local leaders about the quality of cotton seeds distributed in the area for the 2024/2025 farming season.
The regional boss issued the mandate during a meeting with extension officers and ward officials in Kishapu, accompanied by Tanzania's Cotton Ambassador, Aggrey Mwanri.
He expressed concerns raised by the officers that some of the seeds provided were of poor quality, potentially jeopardizing the cotton crop's yield and regional agricultural reputation.
"There is evidence that some seeds brought to Kishapu are substandard. This undermines the mission given to me by President Samia Suluhu Hassan to restore the prominence of cotton farming in our region," Macha emphasized. "Without quality seeds, all the hard work by Ambassador Mwanri and others in promoting cotton will be in vain."
He directed the Cotton Board to "inspect all distributed cotton seeds in Kishapu, confirm their suitability for planting, and replace any that do not meet quality standards. I am giving you seven days to report back with findings and recommendations."
Kishapu District Commissioner Joseph Mkude also underscored the importance of quality, pointing out that seeds from the previous season, now being distributed to farmers, had already raised concerns. "Some farmers have even returned bags of seeds, saying they are unsatisfactory," Mkude noted.
Agricultural officers in Kishapu reported that the seeds distributed lack proper quality and may not support optimal cotton yields. Tanzania Cotton Board (TCB) inspector Thomas Tiluhongerwa confirmed that some seeds are indeed subpar, attributing the issues to moisture damage, likely incurred during transport when exposed to rain.
Tiluhongerwa assured that a comprehensive inspection of all cotton seeds in Kishapu will be conducted within the stipulated timeframe, promising a detailed report on the seed quality in the district by the end of the seven-day deadline.