IN a bid to enhance sunflower production in Tanzania, the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) has developed a new farming tool designed to aid sunflower farmers and boost production.

The tool known as ‘Sunflower Rafiki Planter Prototype,’, created in collaboration with the Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation and Rural Technology (CAMARTEC), was unveiled at a trial event in Mayaha village, Itigi District, Singida, over the weekend.

The planter, designed by TARI’s Ukiriguru centre in Mwanza, uses just one liter of petrol to plant one acre of sunflower within an hour. 

Dr Paul Saidia, Director of TARI Ukiriguru, explained that the planter is part of the Food Systems Resilience Programme for Tanzania (TFSRP), which supports food systems resilience by promoting climate-resilient agricultural technologies.

“The ongoing trials in regions like Singida, Dodoma, and Simiyu are aimed at familiarizing farmers with the equipment and gathering feedback for further improvements,” Dr. Saidia said, noting that the machine would help farmers plant at the recommended spacing while reducing sowing costs.

Stanslaus Choaji, Assistant Administrative Secretary for Economic and Production in Singida Region, emphasised the planter's potential to boost small-scale farmers' productivity. "Many smallholder sunflower farmers in Singida struggle to achieve high yields due to a lack of modern machinery," he said, adding that high machine costs often prevent farmers from adopting new technologies.

Solo Lameck, a local farmer, praised the innovation, stating that it would attract more young people to agriculture. Dauson Malela, the lead innovator of the planter, confirmed that the machine was designed for local use and would be available at affordable prices to encourage adoption by smallholder farmers.

Tanzania is currently the leading sunflower producer in Africa, a position strengthened by government efforts to boost the sector, including support for private investment, particularly in seed production.

National sunflower crop research coordinator, Frank Reuben, highlighted that sunflower cultivation has expanded nationwide, except in Dar es Salaam. Singida, Dodoma, and Manyara are the top producing regions, followed by Iringa, Njombe, and Mbeya. According to ministry statistics, approximately 1.6 million farmers across 800,000 households are now cultivating sunflower in Tanzania.