The Chairman of the Tanzania Fertilizer Regulatory Authority (TFRA), Dr. Anthony Diallo, has called on smallholder sugarcane farmers to test the health of their soil before applying fertilizers. He emphasized that doing so ensures the correct use of fertilizers and helps maximize productivity.
“To achieve optimal results, it is crucial for every farmer to test the soil health of their individual plots rather than relying on general samples,” said Dr. Diallo. “This enables them to make informed decisions and avoid unnecessary losses.”
Dr. Diallo made the remarks on May 26, 2025, during a meeting with members of the Mkula Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Society (AMCOS) in the Ifakara District Council, Morogoro Region.
The meeting was part of a working visit by the TFRA Board and Management aimed at engaging directly with farmers.
He noted that the purpose of the visit was to learn from farmers, understand their challenges, and explore practical solutions.
He also urged them to adopt soil testing as a routine practice to boost yields and cut down on avoidable production costs.
Speaking at the event, AMCOS Manager Clemency Mjami expressed gratitude to the government for providing fertilizer subsidies, which he said have significantly reduced costs for farmers.
"Thanks to the subsidy program, the price of a fertilizer bag dropped from TZS 120,000 to TZS 68,000. Over the past three farming seasons, starting from 2022/2023, our AMCOS has received a total of 11,740 fertilizer bags equivalent to 587 metric tons valued at TZS 182,707,521 in subsidies," said Mjami.
Farmers who spoke during the session expressed appreciation for the government’s continued support. They emphasized that without the subsidy, many of them would be unable to afford essential agricultural inputs.
Amanda Punguti, a farmer from Msofini Village in Mkula Ward, noted that the fertilizer subsidy had been a game changer, especially for those with limited financial resources.
“The fertilizer subsidy has been a lifeline for small-scale farmers. We appeal to the government to maintain this support, as it has enabled us to access inputs and improve our harvests,” she said.
Following the meeting, TFRA board members and management visited the Kilombero Sugar Factory to explore ways to enhance collaboration with nearby smallholder sugarcane farmers and strengthen value chain integration.
