FAO.org

A total of 360 small-scale farmers in six districts in Tanzania received free modern farming equipment provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) under the ACP-MEAs 3 project, funded by the European Union (EU).
The double barrel jab planters, delivered along with training on their best use, will save labour, time, and reduces the cost of production at planting time by about 50%.

As explained by Diomedes Kalisa, Project Coordinator at FAO, the equipment improves speed and accuracy of sowing and fertilizer application, with work rates up to four times higher than planting by traditional methods. They are particularly beneficial to women and youth.

Joseph Mbwilo, a farmer at Mbigiri village in Kilolo thanked FAO for bringing the project to the vulnerable communities who could not afford purchasing the modern farming tools.

“We are really grateful for this, many of us here are low-income earners, and accessing training as well as tools to improve our farm production can be a little bit hard, but with the support from FAO and EU, we are among farmers who own modern tools to heighten production”.

Yosefa Mdemu, another farmer at Lukani village, emphasized the importance of sharing the received modern farming skills and tools to empower more farmers in the community.

She also said that the donated tools will help women plan their daily activities well and get ample time to rest because they will be spending less time on farms due to the availability of the jab planters.

Lilian Mgaya, a farmer at Igumbilo village in Chimala ward, Mbarali said: “Apart from this machine, FAO also once came here and trained us on modern beekeeping along with modern beehives and honey processing tools, we are very grateful that today they have come to provide us with more tools to make our farming become easier.”

Mgaya said the tools will be of great help to farmers, especially women who are obliged to take care of all home chores despite spending time in farm activities.

The jab planters will speed up production and promote economic growth, linking landscape-level ecosystem management with improved food security and poverty reduction at the community level.