Extension officers in the Kilombero district of Morogoro region have acquired modern agronomic practices to enhance sugarcane production. This training was facilitated through the Farm Clinic Approach (FCA), a timely agro-clinic initiative.

Led by five facilitators—four from the TARI-Kibaha Centre and one from Kilombero Sugar Company Limited (KSCL)—the six-day training aimed to improve farm productivity and income by empowering extension workers with advanced knowledge and skills in sugarcane management.

Andrew Kachiwile, a seeds researcher, explained that the training focused on equipping extension workers in Kilombero with essential skills for implementing effective sugarcane management practices using the farm clinic approach. 

Among the participants, seven were from KSCL, and eight were from Ifakara Town Council, including four females and eleven males.

"The farm clinic approach was emphasized as a new, practical, hands-on method to engage farmers in adopting best practices," he added.

This robust project is funded by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), based in the Kilombero Valley Basin, which supports efforts to improve sustainable agricultural practices.

Topics covered during the training included the farm clinic concept and methodology, sugarcane varieties, agronomy, pest and disease management, and the business aspects of sugarcane production.

"Through both theoretical sessions and fieldwork, participants developed practical solutions to common challenges faced by farmers in their areas," Kachiwile detailed.

Upon completing the training, the goal is for the beneficiary extension workers to implement farm clinics in their respective localities while receiving ongoing support from researchers from Kibaha. This will facilitate the deployment of improved sugarcane management practices among local farmers.

"This initiative is expected to play a key role in boosting sugarcane productivity and increasing farm income in the Kilombero Valley’s catchment area," Kachiwile emphasized. "If this pilot project succeeds, the trained extension workers will be pivotal in enhancing agricultural productivity and livelihoods in their communities."