By Salome Gangire
Neno, October 10, Mana: Farmers in Neno District have been advised to form cooperatives as a strategy to secure better markets for their produce and improve their economic stability.
Director of Planning and Development for Neno, Charles Lomoni, gave the advice Wednesday at Kambale Ground in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Chekucheku during an Agriculture Fair held under the theme “Agricultural Commercialization: Key to Improved Food, Income and Nutrition Security.”
He said through collective action, farmers can access larger markets and negotiate better prices in larger supermarkets in the country’s cities.
“When farmers work together, they can pool their resources, increase their bargaining power and more effectively penetrate commercial markets. This is the key to unlocking the potential of agricultural commercialization, which will not only improve food security but also enhance household income and nutrition,” Lomoni said.
He advised farmers to also adopt irrigation farming and move away from dependence on rain-fed agriculture for them to be producing throughout the year and benefit economically.
He highlighted that erratic rainfall patterns due to climate change pose a threat to crop yields and economic sustainability hence the need to adopt irrigation farming.
“Diversifying into irrigation and other water-efficient farming techniques is essential if you are to benefit economically from farming,” Lomoni stated.
Lomoni pointed out that agricultural commercialization, when embraced alongside climate-resilient practices, has a ripple effect on rural livelihoods.
He, therefore, called on NGOs to support farmers by providing training and resources to help them establish and manage successful cooperatives as well as introducing climate-resilient agricultural practices.
Council Chairperson for Neno, Joseph Chiphaliwali, asked the farmers to farm on large scale in order to become business-oriented to foster economic growth and food security in the district.
One of the participant from Tikondane Farmers Club, Josephine Kachale, from Bello Village in TADambe lamented lack of a steady market for their produce as a major challenge.
