As Tanzania gears up for the 2025/26 farming season, the Tanzania Fertilizer Regulatory Authority (TFRA), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, has launched farmer training on proper fertilizer use to improve productivity and reduce production costs.
The programme kicked off on October 2 at Makowo Village in Njombe Region, targeting farmers growing key commercial crops such as potatoes, maize, avocados, and tea.
TFRA’s Executive Director, Mr Joel Laurent, said the training seeks to build farmers’ knowledge on the effective application of planting, growth, and top-dressing fertilizers.
According to him, improper use of fertilizers has been a major cause of poor yields and financial losses among smallholder farmers.
“Correct fertilizer use goes hand-in-hand with soil health analysis and the application of fertilizer enhancers. This will help farmers avoid wastage while maximising yields,” he said.
As part of its commitment, TFRA will provide Njombe Town Council with a soil scanner to help agricultural officers determine soil nutrient requirements and advise farmers on the most suitable fertilizers.
Mr Joshua Joel, an extension officer from OCP Tanzania, urged farmers to adopt fertilizers that are both accessible and cost-effective.
He assured them that the company is committed to timely delivery of farm inputs to ease production challenges.
Farmers welcomed the initiative, noting that the training had cleared long-standing misconceptions.
“We used to mix fertilizers without professional guidance, which cost us both money and harvests. This training has opened our eyes,” said Ms Agnes Mgaya, one of the participants.
Her sentiments were echoed by fellow farmers, Mr Costa Abeck and Mr Sabas Mwalongo, who commended the government’s fertilizer subsidy programme, saying it had greatly reduced input costs and made fertilizers more available at the village level.
Mr Mwalongo, who also serves as chairman of Makowo Village, encouraged residents to apply the lessons learned, particularly in potato farming, which he described as the backbone of the local economy.
He further appealed for the training to be sustained in Njombe and extended to other farming communities.
“The government deserves thanks for bringing this training to our village. We believe if farmers put this knowledge into practice, crop yields and household incomes will significantly improve,” he said.
