THE stakeholders in the agroecology agriculture have convened in Dodoma Capital City to delve on viable ways to push for the effective development of the key sector.

Attracted several stakeholders, the gathering was tailored to provide key podium for the participants to hatch useful inputs toward implementation of the National Ecological Organic Agriculture Strategy (NEOAS- 2024/2025).

Tanzania stands among countries across the continent with recommended weather and soil to support agroecology cultivation, but the sector is however facing some challenges which need to be addressed.

Speaking at the forum which convened under the auspices of the Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement (TOAM) the Director of Policy and Planning in the Ministry of Agriculture, Obadia Nyagiro, said the government was realising and working seriously to advance performance of organic agriculture in the country. 

He expressed, organic agriculture plays key role in help improving productivity in crops production in the country. 

"Through this program, the farmers will be trained on proper agronomic practices in order to stand a professional chance to cultivate effectively, "he said.

He insisted, the strategy is based on the agriculture policy which among others directs the issues of setting up the production system, access to markets and identifying organic agricultural products.

"This strategy was launched last year, and we're gathering here for the purpose of setting a crucial road map to ensure we implement it very fruitful," he said.

And in his speech, he urged civil society organizations and the private sector to chip in and invest largely in the agriculture sector.

"I encourage the private sector and civil organizations to go through and see the opportunity to invest in this area because its productivity is high including increasing income, if you go through other countries you will see those who have invested in this agriculture and its productivity and it is important that our plans focus on sustainable agriculture behavior change in the country," he said.

On his side, Chairman of TOAM, Dr. Mwatima Juma said that agriculture aims to have sufficient production, protect health and soil by eliminating the use of chemicals.

"Agriculture using chemicals started 100 years ago after the end of the second world war where the production of chemical fertilizers, chemical pesticides seemed to help us produce more food, we were motivated that using chemicals is the modern thing and unfortunately we stopped our natural agriculture where someone used to grow coffee in which he has pulses, beans, sorghum are all produced well and he has a cow and he throws fertilizer in his field."

"We mobilized to have large farms to cultivate one crop, to spray drugs. Years have gone by and when we arrived, I personally said that we should apologize to the farmers for the places we sent them, especially the small farmers, it is not appropriate. There is a type of farming that they can cultivate without reducing production, without having problems with foodand sell on local and foreign markets," he said.

He pointed out that the agriculture will help Tanzanians get rid of various diseases including fertility, cancer as they are caused by the use of chemicals in agriculture.

In his remarks, Paul Holmbeck from the Biovision Foundation spoke over how other countries implement agriculture, highlighted over the need for scientists and international agricultural organizations to venture into the sector so as to attain food security.