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Sunday, 30 May 2010 08:57
Agriculture and Livestock: Situation
Irrigated Rice and Maize farms in Mbarali
 

The economic development of Mbarali depends mainly on agriculture. It is estimated that over 83% of the population are engaged in Agriculture and livestock keeping. Paddy is the main predominant food and cash crops grown in the district, other crops including maize, sweat potatoes, sorghum sunflower,  Onions, cassava, Beans, groundnuts and Vegetables.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Agricultural Production status
 

 Crop production trend in two years period

S/N

Crop

2007/2008

2008/2009

 

 

Production land (ha)

Harvest (ton)

Production per ha

Production land (ha)

Harvest (ton)

Production per ha

1

Rice

33,500

117,250

3.5

32,400

106,920

3.3

2

Maize

33,000

85,800

2.6

28,800

43,200

1.5

3

Millet

8,000

9,600

1.2

9,200

7,360

0.8

4

Cassava

3,000

27,000

9.0

1,200

9,600

8.0

5

Sweet potatoes

4,000

34,000

8.5

1,500

12,750

8.5

6

Groundnuts

20,500

20,500

1.0

14,800

14,800

1.0

7

Sun flower

1,500

1,050

0.7

1,200

1,080

0.9

8

Onions

1,200

11,400

9.5

1,200

11,400

9.5

9

Beans

21,000

21,000

1.0

12,000

9,600

0.8

10

Tomato

1,050

10,500

10.0

1,500

11,250

7.5

11

Sugarcane

700

10,500

15.0

700

7,000

10.0
Source: DALDO’s Office 2009 

Irrigation schemes

Mbarali District is one of the main paddy producers and is among the focused district in the country for development of irrigation agriculture 
Modern Irrigation scheme in Mbarali District
 

The irrigation scheme in the District is of three categories which are Tradition, Improved and Modern. Currently the district has total of 87 irrigation schemes, among them 57 are Traditional, 17 are Improved and 4 are Modern.

Historically, about 50 years ago traditional/Indigenous Irrigation Systems were practiced in all Usangu plains. Currently the proportional area that remained with traditional irrigation is about 24,900 ha 

Improved Irrigation Schemes which includes Madibira, Igomelo, Ipatagwa, Ruanda Majenje, Kimani, Mbuyuni and Uturo count about 9,600 ha

Modern irrigation System is used mainly by Mbarali Highland Estates Company and Export trading Company LTD with total of 6,000 ha

Investment opportunities on Agriculture sector

Investment opportunities in this sector  are on:
 
  • Establishment of farm input shops that will sell all types of Agricultural inputs including Agricultural machinery
  • Development of more irrigation infrastructures 
  • Establishment of warehouses
  • Establishing industries for processing and packing of agricultural products
  • Large scale and small scale production of oilseeds, oil processing from groundnuts and sunflower
 
 
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 21 July 2010 12:54 )
 

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