Mwangoma said the agriculture department has partnered with the national government to develop mechanisms that will save farmers from extortion by middlemen from neighbouring Tanzania.
"Due to lack of value addition mechanisms, farmers are exploited and forced to sell at a reduced price which is a loss. Most farmers therefore declined to grow rice terming it as an unprofitable venture," he added.
He revealed that the government is in the process of stocking urea-based fertilizer which is highly used in rice production, to be part of the government’s subsidised fertilizer stocked at Timbila depot.
The Executive further encouraged farmers to form cooperatives to increase their bargaining power and cut off middle men.
“We can only fight brokers by having a strong cooperative society for all farmers. The department is ready to assist farmers reap good profits from farming,” Mwangoma added.
Leonard Amiri, a rice farmer at Kitobo cited floods, poor infrastructure and lack of adequate fertilizer as major contributors to low rice yields.
He appealed to the government to step in and help farmers realise their full potential in rice production.
"Farmers need to be supported to access farm inputs and market for their produce. Flooding has largely affected production in this region and we are asking the government to intervene,” Amiri said.
He said the perennial floods witnessed in the area annually has rendered the region unproductive, further asking the agriculture department to distil more water canals to avert floods.
-Edited by SKanyara
