Blogs

After launching of the Babati District Research for Development (R4D) platform the Africa RISING partners and beneficiaries have high expectations of the the platform and those selected to the Platform’s Committee to represent various stakeholders have very clear ideas on their roles. The platform was well appreciated and many feel it will play a key role in pushing for the adoption of the new innovations and technologies generated by the project’s research.

 

“The project wants a demand-driven approach to ensure long term impact of the research on integrated farm practices. The R4D platform should allow the different stakeholders to learn from each other leading to new activities. Some of the activities I expect the platform to carry out include introducing new technologies and capacity building of different stakeholder s. It’s also an excellent opportunity to look into issues on adoption of technologies by farmers.”

Per Hilbur, Consultant, Africa RISING

 

“Through the R4D platform, I expect to see how we can support farmers to adopt new technologies and follow research recommendations. For example, the fertilizer use recommendation. We will also be able to put in place strategies on how to better work with the private sector by creating an enabling policy environment. We are concerned that although there are many new technologies out there, the adoption of new technologies is still low. In the platform, let us have room for everyone and work together to spread these technologies. We have seen their benefit.”

Hassan Lugendo, Babati District Livestock Officer
Babati District Council Representative,

“I first want to thank the project for noting the importance of partnership. We will work with the different partners to ensure the project is a success. We have started well with our platform, we shall now continue and develop it further. When we meet in June, we have to decide how the platform will be funded and how it will be sustainable and be able to run itself without depending on Africa RISING. The platform has opened avenues for other donors to come on board and support the farmers. As policy makers, we will play an advisory role to the platform and support it in resource mobilization.

Dr Lymo Hubert, Assistant Director, Department of Research and Training, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development/ Representing Policy makers

“We want to create a platform where we will work together with farmers and other stakeholders to increase production. For example, farmers at first did not accept to use organic fertilizers but now they are more receptive after seeing the good results. Our role as private sector is to ensure they are able to increase their yields and better their lives.”

Judith Fulgence, Sales extension officer, Minjingu fertilizer company/ Private sector Representative

“For us, we want to see our farmers benefit. We have had a good start. We have formed a platform thathas a good representative of the different stakeholders including farmers. As MVIWATA, we have worked with farmers, we know their challenges and we will ensure they have a voice in the platform. We will use the platform to look for solutions to some of the problems that our farmers are facing for example this new maize disease, Maize Lethal Leaf Necrosis (MLN).”

Daniel Manyanage,
Mtandao wa Vikundi vya Wakulima Tanzania (MVIWATA) / Association of Farmers Groups in Tanzania/ NGOs Representative

 

“I will bring to the platform the problems we have as farmers so they can be addressed. Some of the problems include inadequate research and extension. The extension officers are few and lack tools for their jobs. But with Africa RISING, the farmers are getting the technologies through the demonstration farms where they see practically the new technologies. Markets are also an issue. The government tells us not to sell out of the country but the local market is not enough. The government store is also in Arusha but the maize is here in Babati. We need a warehouse for maize – which is our main income earner – so we can keep our maize and sell when the price is right. For now, the price we get for the maize our farmers make losses. So the farmers will not benefit from the inputs if the market is still poor. We can also process the maize and sell as flour and make more money.”

Andrea Maji, farmer from Seloto village/Farmers Representative