Agricutlture|Livestock Sector|Natural Resources

Agriculture

Current Status|Crop Production|Problems|Measures

Current Status:
Agriculture is the primary activity carried out in the Region. Total Region land area is 4,131,000 Ha. Arable land (suitable for Livestock and crop production) is 3,193,910 Ha (77.3%).

Area suitable for crop production is 1,816,910 Ha (43.9%) of the total land area. Area presently cultivated is 790,000 Ha, which is 19% of total land area or 43.5% of the area suitable for crop production. Therefore 56.5% of the area suitable for cultivation is available for agricultural investment, which is equivalent to 1,026,910 Ha.

Crop Production:

Production of crops is carried out in almost all potential areas within the Region according to the agro ecological zones. The major crops that are grown include sorghum, millets, cassava maize, paddy, beans, and oil-seeds (groundnuts, Simsim, sunflower castor) and grapes. There is also potential to produce new oil seed crop called “Mlonge” and a substantial production of tomatoes onion and other vegetables and fruits.

Problems and Prospects for increasing agricultural production:

Agricultural Production in the region is, by and large carried out at household level. Crop production is estimated to engage 85 percent of the total regional labour force and is a major contributor to the Regional Domestic Product. However, the development of the agricultural sector is besieged by a number of constraints that include among others:

• Unreliable rainfall:
The vagaries of weather (i.e. the amounts, reliability and distribution of rainfall) constrains production of crops grown in the region. Many farmers in the fertile areas of the region fear to expand production due uncertainty of rainfall.

• Poor Tillage:
About 60% percent of agricultural production is dependent on the hand-hoe resulting into poor tilling capacity , low soil and water conservation and low labour productivity.

• Inadequate input support:
Only a few progressive farmers have access to fertilizer, pesticides and improved seeds. The majority of the rural population lack credit facilities and consequently cannot afford to purchase agricultural inputs required to boost agricultural production

Measures for increasing agricultural production:
Small scale irrigation:
Due to lack of permanent rivers increasing agricultural production by using large scale irrigation is not feasible in Dodoma Region. However, there is a possibility of developing small irrigation schemes by exploiting seasonal rivers, spring by using rainwater harvesting basins,
underground water sources and a few dams for horticultural production. Currently the area under irrigation is 4,600 Ha which is 12.3% of the
potential irrigable land (32,.715Ha)

• Mechanization tillage by using more animal and tractor power in order to increase agricultural production and productivity.
• Use of manure: The region is rich in animal manure; thus, use of farmyard manure can help towards increased production of various crops in the Region. The intensified use of manure will also assist improving soil assist improving soil structure, restoring soil fertility and increasing soil water conservation.
• Tractor Power: Farmers are being encouraged to purchase tractor either individually or collectively by forming farmers groups. Currently the Region has 454 tractors but only 372 are working. Other farm machinery available includes 13 power tillers, 147 Magoye rippers and 17,842 ox– ploughs.

Improved Seeds
The Region is emphasizing on the promotion of “On Farm Seeds Production System” Such as production of quality declared seed (QDS) under Agriculture sector programme Support financed by KILIMO/DANIDA, Community Based SeedProduction by using farmer groups and selected Primary Schools under The Diocese of Central Tanganyika/ International Crop Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropic (ICRISAT). Under this programs the Production of Improved Seeds quality Declared seeds (QDS) in 2001/ 2002 farming season is as follows: Sorghum 91 Tons, Maize 32.7 Tons, Sunflower 3.9 Tons, Simsim 1.6 Tons, Beans 1.0 Tons, pigeon peas 2.3 Tons and Pearl millet 5.7 Tons.

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