By The Respondents Reporter
Simiyu Regional Commissioner Anamringi Macha has said that strengthened farmer education on the proper use of fertilizers is playing a central role in boosting crop productivity across the region, particularly in cotton farming.
He made the remarks in his office on December 3 during a meeting with a team of experts from the Ministry of Agriculture and its agencies.
Mr. Macha said improved knowledge on fertilizer application has helped farmers adopt better practices, resulting in notable production gains.
According to him, fertilizer consumption in Simiyu had historically remained below 100 tonnes a year.
“For the 2024/2025 farming season, usage has increased to 605 tonnes. This shows that farmers are now embracing fertilizer as a key input for higher yields,” he said.
Mr. Macha added that farmer registration in the digital subsidy input system has also surged. A total of 426,331 farmers have been registered for the 2024/2025 season and issued identification numbers making Simiyu the leading region in the Lake Zone for digital registration.
Farmers at the grassroots are already seeing the benefits. At Bukaginja irrigation scheme, rice farmer Maria Joseph said fertilizer training shifted her understanding of crop nutrition and transformed her yields.
“I now use both planting and top-dressing fertilizer. I used to harvest about seven bags per acre, but after applying fertilizer correctly, I now get between 30 and 35 bags,” she said.
Samson Poneja, Assistant Director in the Ministry of Agriculture’s Crop Development Department, urged more farmers to register on the subsidy system and take up soil testing to determine their farms’ nutrient needs.
He said the government is strengthening extension services, including expanding access to soil testing kits in all local government authorities such as Maswa District Council.
This, he noted, will help farmers use the right nutrients, improve productivity, and enhance the competitiveness of Tanzania’s agriculture sector.
