TANZANIA-Yara, a company that produces, distributes, and sells nitrogen-based has launched the Yara Knowledge Centre in Iringa, which aims to boost agricultural productivity and sustainability in the region.
This collaborative effort between Yara Tanzania, Farm For the Future (FFF), and Seed Co. Limited signifies a new wave of assistance for smallholder farmers, equipping them with essential education, tools, and resources to increase yields and improve their livelihoods.
The inauguration of the Yara Knowledge Centre at FFF’s 350-hectare seed maize farm in Ilula District marks a milestone in the quest to address the challenges farmers face, particularly in accessing agronomy expertise and essential inputs like fertilizers.
With the presence of distinguished guests including Iringa Regional Commissioner Halima Dendego and Norwegian Ambassador to Tanzania Ms. Tone Tinnes, the launch underscored the importance of public-private partnerships in advancing agricultural development.
Ms Dendego hailed the initiative as a timely intervention to bridge critical gaps hindering farmers from realizing their full potential. She emphasized the pressing need for agronomic knowledge, access to inputs, and solutions for various challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, water scarcity, and market disruptions, all of which hamper agricultural productivity in the region.
The establishment of the Yara Knowledge Centre represents a collaborative effort to provide practical solutions to these challenges. Yara Tanzania Managing Director, Winstone Odhiambo, highlighted the Centre’s role in equipping smallholder farmers with practical skills, tools, and support necessary for sustainable farming practices.
The Centre aims to empower farmers to improve yields, adopt modern farming techniques, and enhance their resilience to climatic uncertainties through field demonstrations and education initiatives.
The launch event also emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting private sector-led initiatives in agriculture. Ms. Dendego reiterated the government’s unwavering support for such partnerships, emphasizing their importance in achieving agricultural transformation objectives and enhancing food security.
Mr. Odhiambo emphasized Yara’s commitment to promoting soil health and sustainable agriculture, aligning with President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s agenda for agricultural transformation.
The Yara Knowledge Centre in Iringa is part of a broader network spanning seven locations across Tanzania, each serving as a hub for knowledge dissemination and strategic partnerships aimed at driving agricultural growth beyond fertilizers to include financial aid, pesticides, off-takers, soil testing, and mechanization.
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