Various stakeholders in the agriculture sector have advised and encouraged farmers to use local farming technologies which rely on the resources available around them in order to reduce costs of running agriculture activities as well as caring for the environment.
Speaking while closing a two-day training workshop on 11th September, 2020 at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) main campus, the Environmental Officer from the office of the Vice President, Mr. James Nyerobi used that opportunity to encourage farmers to use farming methods
"We know that most Tanzanian farmers are smallholder farmers and their capacity is limited so using the natural resources around them such as natural fertilizers and manure will help them spend less on agriculture and produce more," he said. Nyerobi.
He added that if the farmer uses the natural resources around them then it will also help to conserve and protect the environment in the community around them.
In addition, Mr. Nyerobi called on professionals who teach farmers about these technologies to continue doing so as they are environmentally friendly and have great benefits for the whole community for now and in the future.
On the other side, Mr. Petro Nyabenda who is a stakeholder and an employee from the Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement (TOAM) which deals with non-chemical farming practices advised that consumers should use these natural technologies such as using natural fertilizers as they are very beneficial in obtaining higher quality crops.
"Through this discussion I want you to know that if the farmer uses these natural technologies properly, they will see good results and it is quite possible for the farmer not to use industrial chemicals at all in their activities" said Mr. Nyabenda.
He added that they as an organization that teaches and encourage farmers not to use chemicals completely through this workshop has given them the ability, creativity and courage to continue to teach farmers to use and implement various agro-ecology techniques.
Mr. Yohana Haule who is a stakeholder and project monitoring and evaluation expert from Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania (SAT) which provides training to farmers said that they as major agro-ecology stakeholders this workshop will greatly help farmers solve the challenges they face including reducing costs in agriculture using the resources around them.
"As stakeholders we have discussed various issues especially how to find solutions to the challenges that farmers face as well as how to plant modern crops and how to avoid diseases on crops" said Mr. Haule
Mr. Emanuel Lyatuu Program Officer from Research, Community and Organizational Development Associates (RECODA) which enables farmers to overcome poverty said that Agro-Ecology practices will greatly help farmers to identify themselves and reduce the use of environmental destructive chemicals on their farms.
He also called on all agricultural stakeholders to encourage farmers and be closer to them in solving the challenges they face by providing them with proper tools and techniques to make their life better.
The workshop on agro-ecology brought together various agricultural stakeholders, SUA students, experts from governmental and non-governmental organizations including Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania (SAT), Research, Community and Organizational Development Associates (RECODA), Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement (TOAM), Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) and Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) with Students from the Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology
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Farmers advised to adopt agroecological farming methods to increase productivity
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