|
VC advises use of soya to eradicate malnutrition
2008-02-04 08:55:45
By Amina Saidi, PST, Morogoro
Thirty per cent of Tanzanians are plagued by malnutrition because they do not consume foods capable of providing their bodies with protein.
This was revealed by the Vice-Chancellor of the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Prof Gerald Monela when addressing soya beans stakeholders in the region where he said due to the said problem there was the need for experts and researchers of soya to disseminate the expertise on soya cultivation and its use by the people, particularly those in rural areas.
``In doing so you will be implementing your responsibilities as regards greater consumption of the crop hence cut down the problem of malnutrition in society, and at the same time uplift the incomes of peasants.
Prof. Monela said SUA, under the PANTIL project, which is run jointly by the governments of Tanzania and Norway, has conducted training and mobilisation on soya cultivation to peasants in three districts of Kilosa, Mvomero and Morogoro.
However, the coordinator of soya projects at the university said that despite having a reliable market, production of the crop was still low as peasants were not putting enough effort.
``A kilogram of soya now sells at between 800/- and 1,200/-, but still the processing industries in the region say the rate of its production does not suffice their needs,`` he said elaborating that the processors needed a minimum of five tonnes of the crop for uninterrupted operations, but due to the low amount produced by individual peasants, many buyers found it a waste of resources going out into the villages to purchase the produce.
As regards the main buyers of the crop, the professor said they included factories processing livestock food and children delicacies.
Earlier, opening the session, the Morogoro District Commissioner, Said Mwambungu, called on the Ilonga Research Centre for Agricultural Crops to concentrate on production and distribution of the soya family crops.
``The availability of reliable and better seeds which will be sold at affordable prices can act as a catalyst for its cultivation, hence become one of the means of poverty alleviation on the part of the peasants and increase consumption of soya in society.
Mwambungu also advised the SUA soya experts to ensure knowledge on production of the crop was disseminated in the districts of Kilombero and Ulanga instead of confining it to the three districts only.
The meeting brought together councils` directors, researchers on soya family crops, extension officers and the crop`s stakeholders.
Areas where peasants have shown an extensive interest in cultivation of the crop include Mikese in Morogoro Rural, Turiani and Mikumi in Mvomero and Kilosa districts respectively.
|
