A CROSS section of farmers in Ruvuma region have been trained on recommended agronomic practices for the professional cultivation of maize and sunflower, as well as certified seed varieties.

The useful training, rolled out by the Agricultural Seeds Agency (ASA) through a tailor-made 'Farmer's Field Day' (FFD) focused to ensure the farmers in the country’s fertile agricultural landscape region are realizing improved yields. 

Speaking during the key event held at the ASA's Namtumbo seed estate, Dr Sophia Kashenge, the Chef Executive Officer (CEO) for ASA, said the state-owned Agency was working concerted efforts to ensure the farmers from across the country adopt certified seeds.

"As the government seed agency, our general role is produce enough seed varieties to ensure the farmers across the country are equipped with improved seeds, but along with the effort, we're also working to educate them on how best to adopt use of other necessary practices in order to have the certificated seeds thriving accordingly, " she briefed. 

She added, the Agency has decided to stage the FFD at the major farm in order to capacitate the farmers within district, especially those engaging into growing of maize and sunflower to be aware, and start  use the certified seeds that are produced by ASA.

She similarly urged the farmers in the district to make full use of the presence of the Agency's seed estate in their areas to get improved seeds for sunflower and maize, the development which will automatically assist them to yield bumper.

On his side, speaking during the event, the Director of Crops Development in the Ministry of Agriculture, Nyasebwa Chimagu said the government was working strategies and efforts to improve capacity of local seeds production in order to discourage a long-standing trend of seeds importantation in the country. 

He informed that, the parent ministry was continue setting aside enough budget to facilitate installation of modern irrigation schemes at all ASA's seed farms in order to allow the farms to remain productive throughout the country, and not realy on rain seasons.

On his remarks,  Ruvuma Regional Commissioner (RC), Colonel Ahmed Abbas challenged the people of Namtumbo District in the Region to refrain from raiding the areas that have been earmarked for public seed estates. 

He said the government has decided to establish the seed farms for patriotic will of elevating performance of the Agriculture sector, the vital stage which has positive impact to the nation's economy, but also for improving livelihoods among millions households across the country. 

Currently, the government is working on a robust process to ensure all of the 17 state- owned seeds estate are installed with modern irrigation schemes by 2025.

Agricultural Seed Agency (ASA) was established under the Executive Agencies Act No 30 of 1997. The Agency was launched in June 2006 as a semi-autonomous body under the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives.