IN an effort to uplift
the level of grape production in Dodoma, the Morogorobased Sokoine
University of Agriculture (SUA) plans to introduce a special programme
to train extension officers on cash crop production.
SUA, which will team up with the Tanzania
Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), will also set up vineyards for
the cash crop in Dodoma, according to TARI’s Manager at Makutopora, Dr
Leon Mrosso. “The initiative will play a key role in addressing
challenges facing grape farmers and thereby improve productivity of the
crop in the country,” Dr Mrosso said here yesterday.
He noted that the programme would include
establishment of a vast vineyard project as well as opening of a special
faculty to impart on the extension officers, agronomic knowledge on
grapes. Dr Mrosso said there was no tertiary institution in the county
that offered training on grape farming, resulting in poor performance of
the cash crop.
“For instance, grapes can be grown in
different parts of the county, but unfortunately, the major-ity have a
notion that the crop can be grown only in Dodoma,” he added. He revealed
other places where grapes can be cultivated as Kilimanjaro, Tanga,
Babati, Karatu, Tabora, Bunda and Peramiho.
“Among types of grapes being grown in the
county include Makutupora Reds, Black Rose, Alphonse Lavalle, Malagha
Crevein, Muscat Humberg and Halily Belly,” he said.
However, Dr Mroso said the cultivation of
grapes in Tanzania was encountering several challenges, including
diseases like powdery medew and down medew.
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