ASA Enters Contract With Over 80 Seed Producers -

By Senior Reporter VALENTINE OFORO

THE Agricultural Seed Agency (ASA) has entered into working contracts with over 80 potential seed producer farmers across the country, gearing to heighten production of government’s seeds.

It is expected, the development will see the contracted farmers producing 7000 tons of different improved kernels in the current agricultural season, covering at least 7,850.

As per the entered contracts, some of the farmers will produce the seeds at the ASA’s seed estates, while others on their own lands, and at different locations across Tanzania.

Speaking during a special meeting tailored for the signing of the vital contracts, ASA’s Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Leo Mavika said the development was part to fulfill the Agency’s key role of working in sync with the private sector to advance seed production sector in Tanzania.

He said, the farmers under the contracts will produce different seed varieties, including Maize, Beans, Sunflower and Wheat.

And in the meeting convened in Morogoro Region, Mr Mavika challenged the farmers to work patriotically through reflecting the relevant entered contracts, and not otherwise.

” ASA for our side will stand vigilant to ensure each and every sections of the sealed contract is legally observed by both parts, we and the farmers, so as to attain the envisioned target of scaling up production of improved seeds in Tanzania,” he said.

He cautioned the involved farmers not to take many hactares within the ASA’s seed estates in surpass to their seed producing capacity, saying: “Some contract farmers have had the habit of taking large areas and failing to cultivate the situation which dilutes efforts to achieving the set goals in seed production,”

Moreover, Mr Mavika added that some farmers have had the habit of not managing their fields, observed that the poor situation also leads the Institute to suffer losses and not reach its production goals.

“Seed production is very sensitive, contrary to food production thus you must work closely with our extension officers in order to amplify your production skills,” he told the farmers.

He insisted that the state- owned Agency had been tasked by the government to produce improved seeds to the local farmers, saying the contract farmers must work professionally.

“The government has given us special seed producing target that we ought to meet, we’re therefore looking forward to seeing you working friendly to have us meet the set target,”Mr Mavika insisted.

For his part, the Legal Officer at ASA, Valentine Kamugisha told the farmers to abide with the entered contracts in the general course of their daily roles to produce the seeds.

Giving some key legal instructions under the signed contracts, the Legal Officer detailed that the contracted farmer are not allowed to rent the farm given to them by the Agency for production seeds ,as well as sell the harvest in other parts different from the contract.

“You must observe these agreements, that you are not allowed to rent or sell the agency’s farm and if you produce seeds you are not allowed to sell them as food crops,”

“I ask you to observe these agreements. If someone violates them, strict disciplinary measures will be taken,” he added.

ASA’s Director of Production, Dr Justin Ringo expressed high optimisms that through working collaborations with the seed farmers the Agency will attain its seed production targets.

He spoke over the need for the farmers to observe the principles of good seed production, especially planting and harvesting on time, crop care, seed cleanliness and storage.

Speaking at different times, some contract farmers have praised the Seed Agency, ASA, for working with contract farmers against the production of quality agricultural seeds.

Mwambambale Asajile, a contract farmer at the Kilangali seed farm, said that the development was vital since it focuses to strengthen cooperation in seed production to increase production in the country.