From 1st to 8th August 2009, Agricultural Council of Tanzania (ACT) took part in the Farmers Day Exhibition (Nane Nane) which was held at the Nzuguni, in Dodoma Municipality.

While addressing the public at Nzuguni grounds, on day three of this exhibition, President Jakaya Kikwete re-emphasized the government’s commitment to Kilimo Kwanza. The President elaborated that this new concept was complementary to the Agricultural Sector Development Programme (ASDP) and that it would ensure that private sector participation in this programme is more visible in order to achieve sustained agricultural development.

The President noted that the previous initiative to promote agriculture such as “Siasa ni Kilimo,” “Kilimo ni Uhai” and “Kilimo cha Kufa na Kupona,” the private sector was the missing link. This time around, it is duly incorporated in Kilimo Kwanza.

In this year’s exhibition ACT invited District Coordinators (of the Tanzania Agricultural Partnership Programe) TAP from Mbozi, Mbarali and Kilombero. Each Coordinator was accompanied by three people: a farmer, an agro-dealer and a representative from a Warehouse Receipt System. A team from each district displayed samples of products that are used in the course of implementing various TAP activities

The products on display were rice seed varieties; TXD 85, TXD 306, Mbarali I, II, and III, and local varieties included Super India, India Rangi and Afa Mwanza. There were also maize seeds used in the demonstration plots for instance Sc 403, Sc513, Sc627 and Pannar 691 and Western hybrid (WH) which were supplied by private seed companies.

Regarding fertilizer, different types of the product were displayed. They included Meli  Mahindi (23:10:5+5s+Zn), Meli Mahindi Super (30:14:7+2.5S+Zn), Minjingu Mazao and Minjingu local phosphate, NPK 20:10:10, NPK 25:5:5+3S and the Tanzania Fertilizer Company (TFC) had some items to  display.

The presence of farmers, agro dealers and representatives of WRS explaining how TAP coordinates its activities in their districts, generated a lot of enthusiasm from many people who visited the pavilion because of the exciting first hand experiences these field based actors provided.

The aromatic rice varieties produced by TAP supported farmers in Kilombero and Mbarali districts attracted many people who made a lot of enquiries. Some even scrambled for purchase of the rice which was on display. Contacts addresses were given for future correspondence. It was another opportunity to register our existence.