ASA Surpasses 2022/23 Set Seeds Production Target Under TFSRP Program -

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Agriculture Seeds Agency (ASA), Dr Sophia Kashenge

By VALENTINE OFORO

THE Agricultural Seeds Agency (ASA) has successfully managed to surpass the seeds production targets for 2022-2023 production season as set by the Tanzania Food Systems Resilience Program (TFSRP) Program.

The $300 million worth Program, Tanzania Food Systems Resilience Program (TFSRP) is a Program for Results (PforR), is financed by the International Development Association (IDA), and it work to support implementation of three result areas under the government’s wider Agriculture Sector Development Program II (ASDP II).

During the said growing season, 2022/23, the state-owned seeds Agency planed to produce at least 6,000 tons of kernels from its all seed estates, but successfully, it raised a total of 7,600 tons.

ASA’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Sophia Kashenge revealed the vital metamorphosis in the seed production sector during a brief training to capacitate the agriculture officers, and the seeds production machineries operators.

The training was held at the ASA’s Kilimi- based seed farm in Nzega District of Tabora.

She expressed: “The Agency, through PPP model with the private seed companies has worked tirelessly to produce highly in surpass to the seeds production estimations under the Tanzania Food Systems Resilience Program (TFSRP)- Program for Results (P4R),”

She informed, as per the program’s special evaluation, the Agency has managed to surpass the set seeds production targets by at least 128 percent.

“We’re really appreciating the good works and collaborations we have keep on receiving from the private companies we’re working with, the smooth working system which has enabled us to achieve this milestone towards seeds production sector, ” Dr Kashenge expressed.

She said the set seeds producing target for 2023/2024, is to raise a total of 9000 tons, to be produced by ASA plus its private seeds companies partners.

“In the current season, we’re envisioning to produce 8,500tons of various crops, which means, in additional with the seeds to be produced by the private companies that work under ASA, we will stand a possible chance to meet the set targets, ” she added .

With mandate to produce Government’s seed, ASA, ranked 8th out of 167 seed companies in the country together with it’s land resources contributes to at least 28 percent of all seeds produced in Tanzania.