By Friday Simbaya, Iringa
Iringa Regional Commissioner Amina Masenza has applauded the NAFAKA program for efforts to raise farmers' economy and to develop development in the agricultural sector.
She said agriculture has a great deal of employment for young people and women in rural and urban areas for our development and the nation as a whole.
Masenza said yesterday when delivering agricultural tools to farmers groups, adding that these agricultural tools will help farmers to increase productivity and agricultural activities at a timely basis.
She also said that such agricultural resources would enable young people and women to participate in agriculture with great success including the promotion of income-generating activities (IGAs) at home level and poverty alleviation in Iringa.
"The government urges small-scale farmers, medium scale farmers and large scale farmers to use the best agricultural tools in crop production activities to increase productivity," said Masenza.
Masenza said that the Agricultural Grant provided by USAID's NAFAKA Program, is an important opportunity for farmers' groups.
She said that the government will also continue to integrate farmers and groups of farmers into various opportunities that are available in government as efforts to support the Fifth Phase (5) Government in enhancing agriculture and increasing crop value rather than selling grain or raw materials.
In turn, USAID NAFAKA Grant Project Manager, Pius Tizeba said that they have provided subsidized agricultural tools with a total value of Tsh. 303,497,000 / - amongst these farming groups have contributed to the total Tsh. 52,252,000 / -.
In addition, nine (9) groups of famers from Kilolo and Iringa districts in Iringa region have received subsidies of farming tools valued at 74,930,000 / -, where groups have contributed to the total Tsh. 9,938,000 / -.
Tizeba said agricultural tools that farmers' groups from Kilolo and Iringa districts were entrusted with were four (4) Power Tiller (Tsh). 36,400,000 / -, three (3) maize milling machines of Tsh. 24,450,000 / - and protective equipment during spraying herbicides in the farms worth Tsh. 14,080,000 / -.
However, he said that the farmers' groups face the challenges of lack of funds to build a place to grinding machines and with a lack of skills in farming.
On his part, chief of party NAFAKA Program, USAID funded project James Flock has urged beneficiaries to utilize the agricultural tools very well, so that they bring about positive socio-economic impact.
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