ASA’s Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Leo Mavika
By Senior Reporter VALENTINE OFORO
THE Agricultural Seed Agency (ASA) has launched a special program to impart its staff with modern technology and skills necessary for the professional production of improved seed varieties.
As part of the crucial strategy, the state-owned seed Agency in partnership with support from the Fisheries Development Programme (AFDP) has organized a three-day workshop in Dodoma Capital City, tailored to impart the Agency’s agricultural extension officers in the region with the said awareness.
Speaking at the launch of the positive gathering, ASA’s Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Leo Mavika expressed that the vision behind the training was to improve speed and working standards of the extension officers in order to help quench the country’s seeds thirst.
“Our current focus is to elevate speed in the production and distribution of improved seed varieties in order to meet the government’s set targets,” he insisted.
According to the CEO, the Agency was tasked to work tooth and nail to ensure it produces enough seeds to help the government attain the much-needed seed sufficient, which now stands at around 127,650 tons annually.
“Make sure you make a brave use of this meaningful podium to acquire the necessary skills to be provided by the agricultural seeds pundits so as to amplify your daily operations, especially in seeds production,” Mr Mavika challenged the ASA’s staff attending the workshop.
He detailed that ASA is currently prioritizing production of at least 13 different seeds varieties, including Maize, Sunflower, Paddy and others, added: “Our focus should reflect the general zeal to produce and provide to the farmers improved varieties for all strategic crops, including food and cash crops, that flourishes well across the country,”
Mr. Mavika insisted: “I remain optimistic to see major changes in ASA’s seed estates after this training,”
Speaking for his side, ASA’s Acting Marketing Director, Mr Emmanuel Maziku detailed that through AFDP Programme, the Agency is implementing key projects at its two seeds estates, saying: “At Kilimi seed farm, in Tabora Region the program works to install modern irrigation scheme, special seeds dying facility, a vast warehouse as well as the staff office,”
Moreover, he added that the robust project incorporates construction of irrigation infrastructure at the Morogoro-based Msimba seed farm, together with rehabilitation of the houses for the farm’s staff, among others.
“We’re implementing this project in sync with AFDP with an eye to help boost the country’s seeds production performance, the development which will also help to attract more players from the private sector to chip- in and partake,” he insisted.
The Agricultural Seed Agency (ASA) was established under the Executive Agencies Act No 30 of 1997. The Agency was launched in June 2006 as a semi-autonomous body under the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives. The Agency took over the responsibilities that were performed by the Seed Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Cooperatives. The aim of establishing ASA is to ensure high quality agricultural seeds are available to farmers at affordable prices.
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