|
Treasures of the land
2007-09-09 10:17:05
By Correspondent Mwanzo Millinga
Cashewnut is one of the main cash crops of Tanzania grown in the southern regions, particularly along the coast, by small farmers and large scale private plantations.
In Lindi and Mtwara regions cashewnuts remain the leading cash earner of the population.
For many farmers the cashewnut is a hard crop to maintain it requires effective pesticides against major diseases and insects and hard work.
There is a chain of labour force groups before the farmer realizes the harvest. There is the farm owner, pesticide sprayer, weed mover, picker, courier and transporter.
All those groups add to the costs which at the end leave the farmer with nearly nothing. Hamis Mussa, 19, a carpentry apprentice at Mzee Hamis Mkong`one`s workshop in Lengo village, Newala, Lindi, owns a two acre farm with 80 cashew trees. ``I hail from Namionga village, also in Newala.
I did not make it into secondary school that is why I decided to come here to learn carpentry``, says Hamis. Hamis refutes the common allegation that all Machinga boys go to Dar es Salaam after finishing primary school for the sake of becoming petty traders (hawkers), known as ``Machingas`` in the streets.
He says there are many like him who have serious commitment in agricultural production which he says, pays them very well.
``Right now, I have two people working in my farm, one is collecting the dry weeds piling them ready for burning and the other is spraying pesticide for fungicides and pests.`` says Hamis as I talk to him at the carpentry workshop.
To me Hamis seemed to be a right role model for all the bunch of ``Machingas`` who keep on quarreling with the city askaris, in Dar for instance. It was hard for me to believe if he had people working for him in a farm.
I therefore asked him if we could go and see how they are doing. We hired two bicycles for Tshs. 500/= each. It was a three kilometres ride.
At the farm, Hamiss introduced Nurding Majali who was spraying and Shebu Saidi Madinga who was piling the dry weeds. ``I own this farm on a three year hire basis`` says Hamis responding to my question.
``We have agreed on produce payment with the realy owner`` he continues. Hamis intends to open his own workshop after finishing his apprenticeship by August next year.
He currently invests the money he gets from selling furniture into the farm.
He calls upon youths to stop migrating to towns and cities where they hope to get better life while leaving the treasures in the land at home.
|
