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Ludewa embarks on cashew nut revival
2006-11-13 08:44:08
By Felix Andrew, Ludewa
Ludewa District authorities have embarked on revival of cashew nut and honey production.
Speaking to reporters, Ludewa District Acting Executive Director, Baltazar Ngowi, said the authorities had earmarked about 320 hectares of land for cashew nut growing.
He said Ludewa District used to be among major producers of cashew nuts, before production declined.
”We want to sell more cashew nuts for export so as to bring in more foreign currency,” he said.
He mentioned some of the factors that caused the decline as poor infrastructure, change of weather and vagaries of the world market.
He said the district had received support from the District Agriculture Development Support (DADS), which is funded by the Danish government, through its development agency DANIDA.
”DADS has supported us in the provision of seeds and fertilizer, which will enable us get quality produce,” The DC said. He added that they had already prepared farms and starting next season, people would start planting seeds.
A DADS official, Dr. Mshindo Msola, said his organization would continue supporting the farmers upon request.
Currently the DADS is working in two regions of Iringa and Mbeya, where farmers have benefited through the establishment of irrigation schemes, farmers’ field school, water dams, and construction of bridges.
Ludewa District, located South West of Iringa, has a population of 128, 155. Apart from agriculture, it has other untapped potential such as tourism, coal and iron deposits.
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