SERENGETI DC ISSUES WARNING OVER FERTILISER THEFT

This strong warning was issued by the acting Serengeti District Commissioner Mr. Joseph Mirumba when addressing the council meeting recently, Mr. Mirumba told the extension officers in Serengeti District, Mara Region who cooperate with other stakeholder to steal subsidized fertilizers and seeds provided to farmers they will be punished accordingly.

Farming activities in the district was going down due to such corrupt servants. "Bunda District has already suspended three workers including one head of department and warns that the government shall not tolerate fertilizer and seed theft in Serengeti, he added that the government has subsidized fertilizers and seeds to enable farmers improve food production as well as boost people's income.

The fourth phase government has been injecting billions of shillings to subsidise fertiliser and seed prices, but there are reports that some people violate the law and use the inputs for their own economic gain.

The government is aware of the scam and has already started to ensure that farmers get their allocation. The District Commissioner also directed extension officers to move from offices and visit farmers in rural areas, to supervise farming activities, a move that he said would help to boost production. "Every official must exercise his or her duties.

We should put agriculture first. I am joking on this matter," the DC warned at the packed meeting attended by councilors, local leaders and government experts working in Serengeti District. The meeting was chaired by Serengeti District Council Chairman, Mr John Ng'oina, who called on area councilors to cooperate with government experts, to speed up people's social and economic development.

According to DC Mirumbe, Mara Region has been selected to be one of key cot- ton seeds producing zones in the Lake Region. Majority of Serengeti and Bunda farmers rely on cot- ton as the major cash crop.

Arabica coffee is the major cash crop in the neighbouring Tarime District. Most areas of Tarime District have suitable climate and soil for coffee cultivation and such places remain lead- ing coffee producers in Mara Region.

The Tanzania Coffee Board (TCB) and Tanzania Coffee Research Institute (TaCRI) have in the recent years been taking significant steps meant to revive coffee sector in the lake zone, with Tarime being one of key tar- get areas. The measures include introduction of new coffee varieties that produce high yield and also prone to diseases such as coffee berry diseases.

TCB is also planning to transform Tarime into a coffee processing zone, according to TCB Director General Eng. Adolph Kumburu.