By Daily News Reporter in Dodoma
ABOUT 60
smallholder farmers in Chamwino District will benefit from drip
irrigation scheme funded by the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP), which aims at improving food
security in Dodoma Region.
Chamwino District
Social Development Officer, Ms Sophia Swai, noted here recently that the
main goal of the project was to minimise adverse effects of climate
change in agriculture in the region.
"The project also
helps to engage poor households in income generating activities on how
to eradicate poverty," said the Chamwino District Social Development
Officer during a study tour of the project to beneficiary farmers at a
model farm owned by Mr Fred Mwenemile.
Depending on how
well one is designed, installed, maintained, and operated, a drip
irrigation system is more proficient than other types of irrigation
systems, such surface irrigation or sprinkler.
Ms Swai said the
authorities in Chamwino came up with the idea to adapt with weather
condition in the region, adding that Social Development Department wrote
a proposal on the project.
"We submitted a
proposal on the project dubbed Sustainable Vegetable Agriculture to UNDP
for the funds to support small scale farmers," she observed.
Ms Swai said the
project will cost the authorities 60m/- for training to farmers and
installation of drip irrigation infrastructures, adding that its
beneficiaries will receive training on drip irrigation.
Mr Vesi Mazuguni,
one of the project beneficiary farmers from Huzi village in Chamwino,
expressed his delight on the drip irrigation scheme, saying the study
tour was vital for them to be conversant with how to carry out drip
irrigation in their plots.
"When we go back to
our village, we'll decide types of vegetables to grow in our 10 acre
farm," said 54 year old smallholder farmer.
Mr Mazuguni pointed out that six groups with ten members each will execute the drip irrigation scheme on ten acre farm.
On his part, Mr
Fred Mwenemile, whose farm is used as a model farm for drip irrigation
project in Chamwino, said he started to grow tomato on his one acre farm
and manages to harvest 800 kilogramme and 2 tonnes every week.
"On the onset, I planted 10,000 seedlings of tomatoes and I started to harvest after 75 days," he said.
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