Conduct study to establish food security – Bahi DC

BAHI District Commissioner (DC), Ms Elizabeth Kitundu has directed agricultural officers in the area to conduct a study on food availability in order to establish food security status in the District.

Ms Kitundu made the directives here on Thursday, when addressing extension officers and farmers at a one-day workshop organized by Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) through its Program dubbed “ Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB).

She said the study on food estimation in the area would enable the authorities in the area to take institute plans towards better food management there as drought loomed.

In line with that, the DC expressed the need for the local farmers to embark on modernised farming practices to ensure better production of crops amidst the dry season expected in Dodoma and elsewhere in the country.

“You (extension officers) must also step up better plans that would ensure public awareness on agricultural biotechnology as one of the agricultural innovations to mitigate impact of climate change in the area,” she said.

Tanzania Meteorology Agency (TMA) has predicted early low rainfall for this season in many regions with Dodoma Region among them to be the hardest hit. “I urge farmers and the public at large to ensure they preserve the food, but more importantly, use modern farming practices to overcome any potential dangers of drought expected,” she noted.

Scientists have also expressed concern over a gradual change in the rainfall pattern, a situation some have attributed to climate change, and stressing the need for use of agricultural biotech terming it a better crop production options to help keep pace with demands for food while reducing production costs.

A researcher with COSTECH, Dr Donald Mneney, said at the workshop that biotechnology largely practiced in various African countries provides farmers with tools that make production cheaper and more manageable. The biotech crops resist plant diseases and insect pests including dry season.

On the other hand, the extension officers in the areas asked the government to ensure regular trainings and support of other tools required to help sustain the pace towards modernized farming practices among farmers.

Country Coordinator, OFAB Filbert Ninyondi said the program aimed to emphasize farmers and the public need to modernize farming practices, to produce for the market and prospective agro-processing industries in the country.

The commission through OFAB is organizing a series of public/farmers meetings and extension agency training workshop in three rural district of Dodoma.