Kikwete kufungua kongamano la kikanda la kilimo

RAIS Jakaya Kikwete anatarajiwa kufungua kongamano kubwa la kikanda la kilimo la muungano wa umoja wa vyama vya kilimo Kusini mwa Afrika (SACAU), lililopangwa kufanyika kuanzia Mei 13 hadi 15 mwaka huu jijini Dar es Salaam.

Kongamano hilo litakaloangalia kwa undani suala la jinsi ya kuhudumia kifedha kilimo cha Afrika linatayarishwa na Baraza la Kilimo na Mifugo Tanzania (ACT) kwa kushirikiana na SACAU.
Akitangaza kongamano hilo jijini Dar es Salaam jana, Ofisa Mtendaji Mkuu wa SACAU, Ishmael Sunga, alisema litashirikisha washiriki zaidi ya 200 kutoka nchi 14 za Kusini mwa Afrika pamoja na wawakilishi wa vyama vya wakulima kutoka maeneo mengine ya Afrika. Sunga alisema pamoja na mambo mengine, mkutano huo utaangalia ushirikiano kati ya SADC/COMESA/EAC katika masuala ya kilimo.
“Mkutano utaangalia ushirika huo kwa undani, muundo wake na umuhimu wake kwa wakulima na biashara katika sekta hii ya kilimo,” alisema.
Pia mkutano huo utaangalia makisio ya mahitaji ya bidhaa za kilimo duniani na kuona fursa na tishio lake kwa wakulima.
Kwa mujibu wa Sunga, kongamano hilo litaangalia kama mfumo wa kifedha uliopo sasa unaweza au hauwezi kuendeleza sekta ya kilimo katika siku zijazo.
Kwa upande wake, Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa ACT, Janet Bitegeko, alisema kongamano hilo litakalokusanya wakulima toka sehemu mbalimbali Afrika litashuhudia kuzinduliwa kwa mradi wa majaribio wa kilimo wa SACAU nchini.
Alisema kuwa inatarajiwa kongamano hilo litakuja na majibu thabiti ya jinsi ya kuinua kilimo nchini, katika kanda na Afrika kwa ujumla.
ACT ni chama kinachounganisha wadau mbalimbali wa kilimo hapa nchini.

Wazalishaji kilimo hai kupata soko la kimataifa

WAZALISHAJI wa mazao ya chakula yanayozalishwa kwa mfumo wa kilimo hai nchini wana fursa ya kuuza mazao yao kwenye soko la kimataifa ikiwa watazingatia viwango vya kimataifa vya usalama wa chakula na kuzingatia taratibu bora za kilimo.
Hayo yalielezwa jijini Dar es Salaam juzi na Mratibu wa Mtandao wa Trade Africa Network Tanzania, Deusdedit Kizito, alipozungumza na waaandishi wa habari kuelezea ziara ya mafunzo ya wiki mbili nchini Ujerumani katika maonesho ya biashara ya Fruit Logistica ya Berlin na maonesho ya bidhaa za kilimo hai ya BioFach, Nuremberg, Ujerumani.
Kizito ambaye pia alikuwa kiongozi wa msafara huo alisema ziara hiyo imefungua milango kwa wazalishaji wa bidhaa zinazotokana na kuzalishwa kwa mfumo wa kilimo hai nchini, kwani wanaweza kuomba na kupatiwa mikopo ya kuendeleza biashara zao kutoka kwenye mashirika ya kimataifa ambayo yameonesha nia ya kukuza biashara hiyo nchini iwapo watakuwa wamepata wanunuzi wa bidhaa zao Ulaya.
“Mikopo hiyo itatumika kukuza mitaji yao kwa kujenga mahala pa kuhifadhia bidhaa zinazozalishwa ikiwamo vyumba vya baridi, magari yenye majokofu kwa ajili ya usafirishaji wa matunda na mbogamboga na pia gharama za kuuza bidhaa nje ya nchi,” alisema.
Aliongeza kuwa mashirika hayo yanaweza kutoa mikopo hadi asilimia 80 ya thamani ya biashara husika na kuongeza kuwa yanatoa mikopo kwa miradi ya maendeleo kwa wafanyabiashara wadogo na wa kati (SME’s), vyama vya ushirika kwa kugharamia mtaji wa uendeshaji na shughuli nyinginezo.
Pia alisema ziara hiyo imefanikisha upatikanaji wa masoko ya bidhaa za asali, kahawa, viungo vya aina mbalimbali, matunda halisi na yaliyokaushwa hasa maembe, nanasi, maparachichi na pensheni.
Kutokana na ziara hiyo, mtandao huo unaishauri serikali kuwa na sera za wazi kuhusu matumizi ya ardhi kuhusiana na wakulima wanaolima kwa kuzingatia mfumo wa kilimo hai na uhifadhi wa ardhi na wakulima wengine wasiozingatia mfumo huo.
“Pia serikali inapaswa kuunga mkono juhudi zinazofanywa na Trade Africa Network Tanzania kama inavyofanya kwa Sido na Tan Trade. Hii inatokana na ukweli kuwa Trade Africa Network Tanzania inalenga kuendeleza ubora na kuongeza thamani ya bidhaa za wazalishaji wadogo ili waweze kukuza kwenye soko la kimataifa,” alisema.
Wakati huohuo, Kizito alisema maadhimisho ya Siku ya Uhuru wa Afrika mwaka huu yatafanyika kuanzia Mei 23 na kilele kuwa Mei 25. Maadhimisho hayo yatafanyika katika viwanja vya Mnazi Mmoja, Dar es Salaam.

Wizara Kufufua Mifumo Asili ya Kilimo

Mfumo wa Kilimo cha asili aina ya Kiamba unaotumiwa na kabila la Wachaga.

Wizara ya Kilimo Chakula na Ushirika imeanzisha Mradi wa kufufua Mifumo muhimu ya asili ya kilimo Duniani (Global Importance Agricutural Heritage System- GIAHS) ili kuendeleza Kilimo cha asili (Oranic Farming) na kumpunguzia mkulima gharama za uzalishaji.
Mradi huo unatekelezwa na Shirika la chakula Duniani (FAO) ambao unalenga kutambua mifumo ya asili na endelevu ya kilimo na ufugaji ili kumsaidia mkulima.
Afisa Mkuu wa Kilimo kutoka Idara ya Matumizi Bora ya Ardhi Bw.  Firmat Banzi
alisema mradi unagharimu zaidi ya dola laki mbili ambazo zimetolewa na Serikali ya Ujerumani.
Alisema kuwa katika Afrika Mashariki nchi ya Tanzania na Kenya ilichaguliwa kufufua mifumo hiyo kwa kuwa na sehemu muhimu za kilimo zanazotumia mifumo hiyo.
Aliongeza kuwa baada ya kuchaguliwa nchi ya Tanzania ilipendekeza mifumo mitatu ya kilimo asili ambayo ni Kihamba ambao hutumiwa na wachaga, Ndiva wa Wapare na Ngoro ambao hutumiwa na kabila la wamatengo.
Alifafanua kuwa mifumo hiyo mitatu ilifanyiwa utafiti na baadaye mfumo wa kichaga ulichaguliwa na kuanza kutumika. 
Aidha, alisema kijiji cha Chimbe juu kilichopo wilaya ya Moshi mkoani Kilimanjaro ndio kilichonufaika na mradi huo na sasa unafikia hatua ya mwisho katika utekelezaji wake.
Hatua hiyo imekuja baada ya tafiti mbalimbali kuonesha kushuka kwa bei ya zao la kahawa na kusema kuwa kilimo asili huongeza bei za mazao kwa kuwa mazao yanayolimwa hayatumii kemikali na badala yake hutumia mbolea ya asili kama vile samadi, aliongeza Bw. Banzi.
Mradi huo utasaidia kuboresha zao la kahawa kwa kutumia mbinu husishi za  kukabiliana na wadudu waharibifu wa mazao.
Alifafanua kuwa  mradi unajumuisha utayarishaji wa vitalu vya miche, ukarabati wa mifumo asili ya umwagiliaji na utayarishaji wa mbolea za asili kama vile samadi.
Ili kuhakikisha mradi huu unaendelea Bw. Banzi alisema wameshirikisha wadau mbalimbali ambao watasaidia kuangalia kwa karibu maendeleo ya mradi, alitaja wadau hao kuwa ni Chama cha Ushirika KNCU cha Kilimanjaro pamoja na halmashauri ya wilaya.
Mifumo ya asili ya kilimo ilianza kupendekezwa dunia toka mwaka 2002 na baadhi ya nchi zimeanza kutumia mifumo hii, baadhi ya nchi hizo ni Japani, Philipino, China na Ujerumani.

Chamwino walia njaa

KUTOKANA na ukosefu wa mvua ya kutosha katika Wilaya ya Chamwino mkoani Dodoma, wakazi wake kwa sasa wanakabiliwa na baa la njaa, hali inayosababisha baadhi yao kukimbia familia zao.

Hayo yalielezwa na Mwenyekiti wa Halmashauri ya wilaya hiyo, Laurent Hoya, wakati alipokuwa akifungua kikao cha baraza la madiwani.
Hoya alisema kuwa hali ya chakula katika maeneo mengi wilayani humo ni mbaya kiasi ambacho wakazi wengi wanahitaji kupata chakula cha msaada haraka iwezekanavyo.
Alisema kutokana na mvua kutonyesha kwa kiwango cha kutosha ndiyo sababu ya wananchi kukosa chakula kutokana na mazao mengi kukauka kwa jua.
“Hata wale tuliowahamasisha walime mtama ambao ndio kama zao mbadala linalostahimili ukame lakini hakuna walichoambulia,” alisema.
Alisema kuwa viongozi wa halmashauri hiyo kuanzia ngazi za vitongoji wanatakiwa kufanya jitihada za haraka katika kuangalia ni namna gani wanaweza kutoa msaada.
“Nawaombeni tutoke na kauli moja hapa, hali ya chakula katika halmashauri yetu ni mbaya sana, mimi nimefanya ziara katika maeneo mengi nimejionea hali ilivyo, inatisha, chakula hakuna kabisa,” alisema.
Naye Ofisa Kilimo wa wilaya hiyo, Godfrey Mnyamale, alithibitisha kuwepo kwa uhaba mkubwa wa chakula, hali ambayo inatishia maisha ya wakazi katika maeneo mengi.
Mnyamale alisema kuwa kutokana na hali hiyo wabunge pamoja na viongozi mbalimbali wilayani hapo wamefanya ziara katika vijiji vyote 77 na kuwataka wananchi kutumia vizuri akiba ya chakula waliyo nayo.
Hata hivyo alitoa wito kwa wanachi wenye mifigo kuiuza ili waweze kununua chakula na kujiwekea akiba ya kutosha.

Ugonjwa hatari wa mahindi waingia nchini

Ugonjwa hatari unaoshambulia mahindi na kusababisha saratani kwa binadamu umeingia nchini na wakulima sasa wametahadharishwa kutokula mahindi hayo wala unga ambao haujakobolewa.

Mahindi yaliyoathiriwa na ugonjwa huo huota ‘fungus’ ambao ina sumu inayoitwa ‘Aflatoxin’ ambayo inaweza kusababisha madhara kwa wanyama na binadamu hususan ugonjwa wa saratani.

Mbali na kutikisa mikoa kadhaa na kusababisha hasara kubwa kwa wakulima, ugonjwa huo ambao umeanzia nchini Kenya unaendelea kusambaa kwa kasi na sasa umeingia pia nchini Uganda.

Awali ugonjwa huo uliripotiwa kuzikumba wilaya za Babati mkoani Manyara na Meatu mkoani Shinyanga tu, lakini sasa umesambaa hadi katika mikoa jirani ikiwamo Kilimanjaro.

Mkuu wa Mkoa Kilimanjaro, Leonidas Gama jana aliithibitishia blog hii kuwa mkoa wake umekumbwa na ugonjwa huo na tayari umesambaa katika wilaya tatu; Moshi Vijijini, Siha na Hai. “Ni kweli baadhi ya wilaya zimekumbwa na ugonjwa huo, bahati mbaya sana hauna tiba na unasambaa kwa kasi... Wataalamu wanaendelea kuwaelimisha wakulima kutambua dalili zake,” alisema Gama.

Gama alisema endapo mkulima atabaini shamba lake kushambuliwa na ugonjwa huo katika hatua za awali, anachotakiwa kufanya ni kung’oa mimea yote ya mahindi na kuichoma moto.

Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Hai, Novatus Makunga alisema takriban hekari 14 zimeshambuliwa na ugonjwa huo katika shamba la Watawa wa Kanisa Katoliki Mailisita na shamba la mkulima wa Lambo.

Alisema tayari wataalamu kutoka Taasisi ya Utafiti wa Kilimo ya Selian (SARI) ya Jijini Arusha wamefika wilayani humo na kutoa tahadhari kwa wakulima juu ya athari za ugonjwa huo. Mfanyabiashara mashuhuri wa mjini Moshi, John Bennett anayemiliki mgahawa wa Golden Shower aliitaka Serikali kutoa elimu kwa wananchi na wafanyabiashara na kuchukua tahadhari.

“Utajuaje unga wa dona haukutokana na hayo mahindi au pumba ya chakula cha mifugo hayakutokana na hayo? Hili jambo ni zito sana si la kufanyia utani hata kidogo”alisema Bennett.

Mkulima wa Kijiji cha Kikavu Chini wilayani Hai, Justine Mvungi alisema wataalamu kutoka SARI wamewataka kuchoma moto miche ya mahindi ambayo watagundua imeshambuliwa.

“Wametuambia takriban shamba likishambuliwa, tung’oe mahindi hayo na kuyachoma moto, wametuambia kama tulishavuna basi tukoboe mahindi hayo maana kiini chake kina madhara,”alisema.

“Aliongeza kusema” hata tukikoboa mahindi tumeambiwa zile pumba zake tusiipe mifugo kwa sababu itaathirika… Ugonjwa huu wa mmea wa mahindi umeleta taharuki kubwa kwa wakulima na wananchi.”

Waziri wa Kilimo atiwa msukosuko bungeni

 Hotuba ya Waziri wa Kilimo, Chakula na Ushirika, Christopher Chiza imezidi kupingwa kwa madai kuwa imejaa majibu ya uongo kwa Watanzania.

Licha ya suala hilo, kitendo cha Waziri Chiza kupeleka mradi wa bwawa la umwagiliaji Wilaya ya Kakonko ambako ndiko jimboni kwake, kilionekana kuwakera wabunge.

Akichangia bajeti ya Wizara ya Kilimo, Chakula na Ushirika juzi, Mbunge wa  Viti Maalumu, Azzah Hilali (CCM) alisema Hotuba ya Waziri Chiza ilitolewa bungeni bila ya kufanyiwa utafiti wa kutosha, kwani vitu vingi vinaonekana havina uhalisia.

“Mambo mengi hapa ya Waziri hayana ukweli, kwani unaposema chakula hutolewa kwa wananchi mara baada ya wakurugenzi kuleta maombi siyo kweli,” alisema Hilali.
Alisema tangu Oktoba mwaka jana, Mkurugenzi wa Halmashauri ya Manispaa ya Shinyanga, aliomba chakula cha msaada lakini kilipelekwa nusu Februari mwaka huu.

Pia, Mbunge huyo alikosoa hotuba hiyo kuwa imetumia jina la Waziri Mkuu vibaya, kwani kiongozi huyo aliagiza chakula cha msaada kupelekwa Shinyanga tangu muda mrefu, lakini hakuna kitu chochote kilichofanyika.

“Ndiyo maana tunasema mnadanganya, wewe fikiria hata hao wataalamu wenu mnaowatuma wanaishia maofisini, huku mnakuja kutoa taarifa kuwa wamefika huko na kufanya kazi, jamani Watanzania wamechoshwa kudanganywa,” alilalamika.

Kuhusu mradi wa bwawa la Kakonko, Mbunge huyo alimtuhumu moja kwa moja Waziri Chiza kuwa anapanga miradi ya maendeleo kwa upendeleo.

Alisema Serikali ilitangaza Kahama kuwa italisha Mkoa wa Shinyanga, lakini hakuna mradi hata mmoja ulioelekezwa wilayani humo, badala yake miradi imepelekwa maeneo yenye neema ya mvua na kuhoji dhambi waliyomfanyia Mungu.

Serikali yalaumiwa kupeleka mbolea ‘mbovu’ Nkasi

Mbunge wa Nkasi, Ali Keisy (CCM) ameilaumu Serikali kwa kutokuwa na mpango mzuri kwa wakulima wa Mkoa wa Rukwa, kwani imeshindwa kuwaondolea kero kubwa ya mbolea ya Minjingu ambayo ilipelekwa muda mrefu na kuonekana mbovu.

Keisy alisema Wizara ya Kilimo, Chakula na Ushirika ilipanga kuwasaidia wakulima wa ukanda huo mbolea ya ruzuku, lakini ilibainika mbolea yote tani 1,000 iliyopelekwa Mkoa wa Rukwa ilikuwa haifai.

“Hata hivyo, naishangaa Serikali yangu, hivi kweli huyo Minjingu ni nani na kwa nini ameiweka Serikali mfukoni kiasi hicho, mbona hamumshughulikii,” alihoji.

Alishangazwa na kitendo cha wizara hiyo kuendelea kuweka mbolea hiyo kwenye maghala kwa muda mrefu, huku wakisingizia kuwa watapeleka mbolea nyingi kuihuisha na kwamba, ni makosa kwani wangepaswa kukamatwa wakati huo baada ya kuifikisha.

Pia, Keisy alilaumu Serikali kwa kuendelea kuagiza mchele kutoka nje ya nchi, ilihali Tanzania kuna mchele mwingi wenye ubora ambao hauna soko.

Keisy alisema kama Serikali itakuwa makini kuwatengenezea miundombinu wakulima wa mpunga, haitapata tabu ya kuagiza mchele kutoka nje ya nchi.

Aliitaka Serikali iwe makini katika suala la kilimo nchini.

Wafugaji washauriwa Kutumia Simu za Mkononi

Arusha
Wafugaji nchini wameshauriwa kutumia mfumo wa teknolojia wa simu za mikononi itakayosaidia kuboresha afya ya jamii kwa ujumla katika kuwasiliana na wataalamu pindi kunapotokea matatizo yakiwaemo magonjwa katika jamii zao.Hayo yalisemwa na Mtafiti wa Kuboresha na Ufuatiliaji wa Magonjwa kwa Njia ya Simu kutoka Taasisi ya Utafiti na Udhibiti wa Magonjwa Ambukizi Kusini mwa Bara la Afrika (SACDS), Profesa Ezron Karimuribo wakati akizungumza na waandishi wa habari jijini hapa.

Alisema taasisi hiyo imekwisha wapatia elimu ya kutumia teknolojia hiyo mpya wafugaji pamoja na wataalamu wa afya na mifugo zaidi ya 30 kutoka Wilaya ya Ngorongoro.

Wakulima wa korosho wapata hasara ya Sh10 bilioni

 Wakulima wa zao la korosho mkoani Lindi wamepata hasara ya jumla ya Sh10 bilion kutokana na kuuza korosho kwa bei ya chini ya dira ya Sh1200.

Kufuatia hasara hiyo wakulima hao wameitaka Serikali iwafidie wakulima hao wa korosho kama ilivyo kwa wakulima wengine ambao huwa wanapata hasara nchini.

Hayo yalibainishwa mkoani hapa na Mwenyekiti wa Halmashauri ya Wilaya ya Nachingwea, Abdallah Chikawe ambaye pia ni Mwenyekiti wa Jumuiya ya Serikali za Mitaa wa Mkoa wa Lindi (ALAT), wakati akizungumza na waandishi wa habari mjini Dodoma.

Chikawe alisema wakulima wa zao la korosho wa Mkoa wa Lindi hawana imani na Chama Kikuu cha Ushirika mkoani Lindi cha Ilulu pamoja na COASCO.

Hata hivyo walimtaka Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Lindi afunge akaunti zote za Chama cha Ushirika cha Ilulu cha mkoani Lindi hadi hapo ukaguzi utakapofanywa .

KILIMO BORA CHA PILIPILI HOHO

Jina la kitalaamu la PILI PILI HOHO ni Capsicum annum. Asili ya zao hili ni bara la Amerika ya Kusini. Hapa nchini zao hili hulimwa katika mikoa ya Iringa, Tanga (Lushoto), Mbeya, Ruvuma, Tabora na Arusha. Kilimo hiki kinaendeshwa na wakulima wadogo katika maeneo yenye ukubwa wa kati ya hekta 0.2-0.4 pia kuna maeneo ya wakulima wakubwa wenye hekta kati ya 2-20. Wakulima hao hujishughulisha na kilimo cha zao hilo kwa njia ya mkataba na kampuni hiyo.

Hoho hutumika katika kutengeneza rangi za asili za vyakula ambazo kwa sasa hupendwa zaidi kuliko zile zinazotokana na kemikali na pia huongeza ladha na harufu katika vyakula. Hivyo hutumika katika viwanda vya kusindika vyakula, kwa mapishi ya nyumbani na hata katika viwanda vya vipodozi kama rangi ya mdomo, uso n.k. Ina virutubisho muhimu vinavyohitajika mwilini kama madini ya chuma, vitamin A na C.
 
 2.0 TABIA YA MMEA
Hoho ni zao la jamii ya pilipili isiyo kali, tunda lake ni nene kiasi la duara pia linaweza kuwa lililochongoka,.

3.0 ENEO NA HALI YA HEWA INAYOFAA KWA KILIMO
Hoho hustawi vema katika maeneo ya usawa wa bahari hadi mwinuko wa mita 2,000 yenye mvua ya wastani wa mm.600-1,250 na wastani wa joto la nyuzi za sentigredi 21 hadi 24. Udongo wa tifitifu wenye rutuba, usiotuamisha maji na wenye hali ya uchachu (pH) kati ya 5.0-6.5 hufaa zaidi. Umwagiliaji ni muhimu pale mvua inapokuwa chache.

4.0 UZALISHAJI
4.1 UTAYARISHAJI WA KITALU
Chagua eneo katika ardhi isiyo na mtelemko mkali na yenye rutuba ya kutosha. Ardhi iwe imepumzishwa bila kuoteshwa mazao ya jamii ya pilipili, biringanya, nyanya, n.k. ili kuepukana na mashambulizi ya wadudu na magonjwa.
Tayarisha kitalu kabla ya msimu wa mvua. Andaa vizuri matuta manne yenye urefu wa wastani wa mita 10 kila moja na upana wa mita moja (1) ili kustawisha miche inayotosha ekari moja. Acha njia ya nusu mita kati ya tuta na tuta. Mwagilia maji ya kutosha siku moja kabla ya kusia mbegu na endelea kunyweshea kulingana na hali ya hewa na hali ya udongo. Sia mbegu kwenye, mstari, nafasi kati ya mstari na mstari ni sm 10 na kina cha sm1. Kiasi cha mbegu cha nusu kilo kinatosha eneo la hekta moja. Weka matandazo kwenye kitalu au tumia nailoni nyeusi ili kuhifadhi unyevunyevu na kuzuia uotaji wa magugu.

4.2 UTAYARISHAJI WA SHAMBA
Shamba lilimwe vizuri na kuweka matuta ili kuhifadhi unyevunyevu na kurahisisha umwagiliaji. Matuta yanaweza kuwa makubwa au madogo kulingana na matakwa ya mkulima. Matuta makubwa hupandwa mistari miwili na matuta madogo hupandwa mstari mmoja.

 4.3 UPATIKANAJI WA MBEGU
Mbegu ambazo hutumika ni chotara ambazo huuzwa kwenye maduka ya pembejeo za kilimo nchi nzima. Haishauriwi kutumia mbegu kutoka zao la msimu uliopita kwani ubora wa paprika utaharibika na hivyo kuharibu soko unashauriwa kununua mbegu bora.

4.4 UPANDAJI
Mbegu huoteshwa na kukuzwa kitaluni kwa muda wa wiki 6-8 na miche hupandikizwa shambani ikiwa na urefu wa sm.6-10. Mwagilia maji kitaluni kabla ya kuhamisha miche. Panda shambani kwa nafasi ya sm.75-90 kati ya miche kwa sm.90-105 kati ya mistari, wastani wa miche 12,500 itapatikana kwa hekta. Weka samadi shambani tani 25-37 kwa hekta wiki 1-2 kabla ya kupandikiza miche, au kilo 560-670 za NPK (mbolea ya viwandani) kwa hekta kwa uwiano wa 4:7:7 katika udongo usio na rutuba ya kutosha. 

5.0 KUHUDUMIA SHAMBA
Palizi ifanyike mara magugu yanapotokea shambani. Umwagiliaji maji ufanyike kama ilivyo kwa mazao mengine kama nyanya. Tumia mbolea kiasi cha kilo 140 za SA au CAN kwa hekta hasa wakati mmea inapotoa matunda ili kupata matunda makubwa na kuvuna kwa muda mrefu (hadi miezi 10).

6.0 MAGONJWA NA WADUDU

Wadudu
• Funza wa vitumba
• Vidukari
• Kidomozi (Leaf miner)

Kudhibiti: Tumia dawa aina ya permethrin
Magonjwa
• Kuoza mizizi
• Mnyauko wa majani
• Batobato
Kudhibiti: Choma nyasi kwenye kitalu kabla ya kusia mbegu.
Badilisha mazao yasiyo ya jamii ya pilipili.

7.0 UVUNAJI
Matunda ya kwanza huwa tayari kuvunwa kuanzia miezi 2-3 baada ya kupandikizwa; matunda yaliyokomaa vizuri na kuwa na rangi nyekundu ndiyo huvunwa. Matunda 30-80 hupatikana kwa mmea mmoja.
Ubora wa hoho huongezeka kutegemeana na kiwango cha rangi yake ikiwa ni nyekundu njano au kijani. Mazao kiasi cha tani 3.5 kwa hekta hupatikana. Baada ya kuvuna mwagilia maji, piga dawa (kama ni muhimu) na weka mbolea kuongeza uzalishaji unaofuata. 

8.0 USINDIKAJI

Hoho huuzwa ikiwa bado fresh tofauti na jamii nyingine za pilipili ambazo zinaweza kukaushwa na kusindikwa kasha kuuzwa baadae. 

9.0 SOKO LA PAPRIKA
Soko la hoho lipo nchi nzima kwenya masoko makubwa na hata magengeni, hoho hutumiwa zaidi kama kiungo cha kupikia mapishi mbali mbali au kutia kwenye kachumbari. Tatizo kubwa wanalokabiliana nalo wakulima ni kutokuwa na soko la uhakika ndani na nje ya nchi, mazao huweza kuoza shambani au njiani kutokana na tabu ya usafiri hasa vijijini ambapo mvua zikinyesha barabara hazipitiki kwa urahisi

Kuna aina ya pilipili isiyo kali kama hoho lakini ni ndefu kama pilipili za kawaida ijulikanayo kama PAPRIKA ambayo ina soko kubwa nje ya nchi. Zao hili kwa sasa huzalishwa kwa msukumo wa kampuni ya kigeni ya Hispania inayoitwa Tanzania Spices Ltd iliyopo mkoani Iringa

Hili ndilo gazeti letu jipya ambalo twatarajia kulitoa mwishoni mwa mwezi huu , Tafadhali wadao karibuni kwenye mtandao huu ambao ni ukombozi kwa kulima na mfugaji kama uti wa mgongo kwa mtanzania.

WAUZAJI WA CHAKULA CHA KUKU KILICHO BORA

Ndugu mfugaji napenda kukushauri kuwa kampuni ya Igo Animal Feeds Co Ltd imekuwa super brand katika soko kubwa la utengenezaji wa chakula cha kuku kwani tunatimiza miaka 25 tangu kuanzishwa kwake. Ubora wetu umeboreka zaidi kwani miaka 25 sio mchezo. Hivyo basi ndugu wafugaji tunapenda
kuwaarifu kushiriki nasi katika maazimisho haya ya miaka 25 ya maendeleo ya ufugaji wenye tija hapa nchini
hivyo basi kwa maoni ya maazimisho haya wasiliana nasi kwa e-mail mkulimanaufugaji@yahoo.com Mungu awabariki.

Wakulima 40,000 Kiteto wabomolewa nyumba zao

WAKULIMA wapatao 40,000 waishio katika vijiji 11 vilivyoko katika Halmashauri ya Wilaya ya Kiteto, mkoani Manyara, hawana mahala pa kuishi baada ya nyumba zao kubomolewa na uongozi wa halmashauri hiyo.
Wakizungumza na waandishi wa habari kwa nyakati tofauti mwishoni mwa wiki wakazi hao ambao wanadaiwa kuvamia hifadhi ya mbuga ya Embloy Murtangosi, walisema wameonewa na kunyanyaswa kwa kuitwa wakimbizi kutokana na baadhi ya vigogo wa serikali kulitaka eneo hilo la hifadhi.Mmoja wa wakulima hao ambaye ni Mwenyekiti wa Kitongoji cha Leitimi, Majaliwa Mbaigwa, alisema wao ni wakazi wa wilaya ya Kiteto tangu mwaka 2003 na waliambiwa na halmashauri hiyo kusogea umbali wa kilomita mbili tu na si vinginevyo.
Alisema wamekuwa wakifanya shughuli zao za kilimo na kulipa ushuru wa halmashauri na kupatiwa risiti ikiwa ni pamoja na kuchangia shughuli za maendeleo kama ujenzi wa barabara, lakini cha kushangaza wanaitwa wakimbizi.
“Ajabu wameongeza eneo kutoka kilomita mbili hadi 20 na kutufanya sisi tuonekane tumevamia, jambo ambalo si halali,” alisema Mbaigwa.
Naye Anna Ngamia ambaye alikuwa akizungumza huku akilia, alisema kijiji cha Laitimi kipo toka mwaka 1985 bali ni hujuma ya wakubwa wenye hela ambao wanataka kuhodhi eneo hilo bila kujali utu na haki.
Kwa upande wake, Imamu wa Msikiti wa Laitimi, Hamisi Haji, alilaani bomoabomoa hiyo ambayo haikujali hata nyumba za ibada.

Watanzania wahakikishiwa kutoporwa ardhi na wawekezaji

SERIKALI imewahakikishia Watanzania kwamba hakuna ardhi ya wanavijiji itakayochukuliwa kutoka kwao na kukabidhiwa wawekezaji kwa ajili ya miradi mikubwa ya kilimo.

Waziri wa Kilimo, Chakula na Ushirika, Chrostopher Chiza, alitoa kauli hiyo jana alipozungumza na wanavijiji toka vijiji vya Kidunda, Mkurazi na Usungura katika Wilaya ya Kisarawe, mkoani Pwani.
Waziri Chiza alikuwa ameambatana na kundi la wawekezaji waliokwenda kuangalia eneo la hekari 63,000 lililotengwa kwa ajili ya kilimo cha mpunga na miwa katika eneo la Gwata mkoani hapa. Ziara hiyo ilikuwa ni moja ya ratiba ya mkutano mkubwa wa wawekezaji wa kilimo uliofanyika jijini Dar es Salaam.
“Kunyang’anya ardhi wananchi sio sera yetu hata kidogo. Hizo ni propaganda zinazoenezwa na baadhi ya watu kwa nia mbaya,” alisema.
Alisema sera ya serikali ni kufanya kila liwezekanalo kuhakikisha maisha ya Watanzania yanainuka na si vinginevyo na kwamba serikali imetayarisha mpango mzuri wa matumizi bora ya ardhi kwa maslahi ya nchi.
Katika siku za hivi karibuni kumekuwapo na madai kutoka taasisi na watu mbalimbali wanaodai maelfu ya ardhi ya wakazi asilia katika maeneo mbalimbali Afrika yanaporwa na kuuziwa au kukodishwa kwa wawekezaji wakubwa na hata serikali za nje ya bara hilo.
Mapema katika mkutano huo uliotayarishwa na Ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu kwa kushirikiana na Kituo cha Uwekezaji Tanzania (TIC) na kituo cha mpango maalum wa uendelezaji kilimo katika ukanda wa kusini mwa Tanzania (SAGCOT), Waziri Mkuu, Mizengo Pinda alisisitiza wawekezaji wote katika ukanda wa SAGCOT kupewa kipaumbele pale ambapo uwekezaji wao unalenga pia kushirikisha wakulima wadogowadogo.

How to Grow a Tomato Plant

Are you learning to grow your own sweet, juicy tomatoes? Luckily for you, tomato plants can grow almost anywhere, that is warm and a little damp. But as with most vegetation that produce a fruit, a little "tender, loving care" or TLC goes a long way. With adequate sunlight, water, and patience, you'll be greatly rewarded with a six foot tall tomato plant with big red juicy tomatoes! Tomatoes take a long time to grow so you must have great patience. That's all you need to do to get your tomato plant growing. Have fun growing!

 Steps

1. Buy small tomato plants from a nearby nursery and transplant them to your garden for the first-time grower. More experienced growers will find it easy enough to start their own tomatoes from seed.
   
   ~ Begin to raise your own plants, if you wish, from seed, in a greenhouse or sunny window indoors about a month before you intend to set them out in the garden.
   
   ~ You can use fluorescent lights hanging a couple inches (5cm) above the planting flat and keep raising it as the plants grow--in a not well lighted room.Raise these plants until they are about 6 to 10 inches tall (15 to 25cm) for example and then transplant them when spring weather is appropriate for your zone.
   
   
   
   
   • Don't pay extra to buy the larger plants; there is not much reason, unless you are getting a "latish" start, to catch up.
2. Get good first-time growers’ varieties including Better Boy, Creole, Big Boy, Early Girl, Brandywine, Celebrity, Lemon Boy, or just about any cherry or grape tomato variety.
   
   ~ Plant several varieties rather than all of one type -- this ensures a steady harvest.
   
   
3. Grow two plants for each member of the family who will eat lots of tomatoes, as a rule of thumb. If you plan on canning tomatoes or making fresh and canned salsa, use up to four plants per person.
   
   

Your planting plot

1. Choose a sunny spot to place the plants to transplant them. Place tomato plants in a site receiving full sun (7 hours or more daily). Tomatoes need lots of warm sunshine for optimum taste.
   
   ~ Caveat: In hot climates when the nights get to a low temperature of about 75°F (24°C), then most tomatoes "quit setting new fruit". The ones already set will grow great. But none will set when nights are very warm through the wee hours really near sunrise.
   
   ~ Don't wait more than a few days late to put them out past the recommended dates for your climate zone, or it may be too late (if there are such early warm/hot weather nights).
   
   
2. Prepare the garden bed by adding lots of well rotted--not green--compost (5 to 8 pounds per square foot/25 to 40 kilograms per square meter) to the soil. Turn compost into the top 3 inches (6 to 8 cm). Tomatoes demand a growing medium rich in organic matter. If you don't make your own compost, use store-bought compost or composted manure available in the 40-pound bags.
   
   

Placing transplants

1. Transplant the tomato deeply. Bury about 50 to 75% of the plant (especially for leggy plants, that became skinny in raising them before transplanting). It’s okay to bury some of its lower leaves. New roots will emerge along the buried stem, giving the plant a developmental boost; a new transplant needs to focus on root production.
   
   
2. Give each plant about 1 gallon (about 4 litres) of warm water (about 80 degrees F/ 27 degrees C) within ten minutes of transplanting to avoid transplant shock.
   
   
3. Space tomato plants 18 to 36 inches (45 to 90 cm) apart; space them half the suggested distance in warmer climates, especially if using tomato cages. The normal distance recommended is for plants allowed to bush out hugely on the ground, while planting closer together in cages allows the plants to shade each others fruit, helping prevent burn and allowing a sweeter flavor.
   
   
   • Don't forget to leave yourself enough space to get in between the plants to water, weed, and harvest. Those cute, little seedlings may not remain that way for long.

Watering

1. Water in the first 7 to 10 days after transplanting at about 16 ounces (about 500 ml) of warm water per plant every day.
   
   
2. Wait a week or two after transplanting, and then place a mulch of straw, dried grass, or pine needles to control weeds and keep the soil moist during dry weather. The mulch should be about an inch (2.5 cm) thick and surround at least a circle 12 inches (about 30 cm) in diameter around the stem. Pine needles are especially good for helping raise the acidity of the soil.
   
   ~ Caution: Do ' not keep the soil continuously wet or "soggy". That will kill (smother) the roots and will cause a stem disease (fungus) especially once it is really warm/or hot weather.
   
   
3. Drip or soaker hose watering is better than overhead, which can encourage diseases that tomatoes are particularly prone to.
   
   
4. Space water out more after 10 days and ensure that plants are receiving 1 to 3 inches (2.5 cm to 7.6 cm) of rain weekly. If not, give each plant about 2 gallons (about 7.5 litres) per plant "per week", beginning by about the end of the second week after transplanting.
   
   
   • Water deeply 2 to 3 times weekly (so, water each plant with about .75 to 1 gallon each time (about 3 to 4 litres), increase water as the plants get larger and when weather is hotter.
   • It's okay in hot or dry weather to water even more frequently with larger volumes.
     

Using stakes and cages

1. Consider using a tomato cage or a tall stake to support the tomato vine about 14 days after transplanting.
   
   
   • A stake should be at least 0.5 x 2 inches (1.3 x 5cm) boards and 6 to 8 feet (1.8 to 2.4 meters) long. Pound stakes about 12 to 24 inches (30 cm to 60 cm) deep, at least 2 inches (5 cm) away from the plant. Secure the plant to the stake using "loosely knotted double-loops" that won't strangle the plant. Stakes can be made of bamboo, scrap wood, electrical conduit, or iron bar.
   • While it is less common, "vining" type tomato plants can be tied onto a trellis or fence, like grapes, beans, squash, and other vining plants. This can produce especially large yields, but vining is less popular because tomato plants grow so large and bulky (some are called "indeterminate" but are not vines, and the third kind are "determinate" type are shrub-like plants).
     
     ~ A determinate tomato plant grows to a certain (determined), limited size and then stops or at least slows its growth greatly. An indeterminate plant keeps growing and spreading out.
   • A cage should be at least 48 inches (1.2 m) tall, even taller if you grow the plant well. Tying plants is unneeded. Some tomato plants can be more than six feet (1.8 m) tall in cages (you may need to stake and tie the cage to the stakes). Cages have a tendency to bend if the plants get heavy, and sometimes collapse in summer storms. Carefully pull leaves and secondary stems inside the cage as the plant grows.
     
2. Make your own tomato cages, if you like. Get a roll of 4 feet height (1.25 M) "welded-wire" garden fencing 2" X 4" rectangular openings (5cm X 10cm) garden fencing with -- or 4" square openings (10cm) -- and soon you can make it double height, tied to more stakes, so wind will not knock them over as plants climb. Roll it into 18 inch wide (45cm) cylinders to make your own, larger cages. Cut and bend the wire ends around the uncut wires on the opposite end, making a circle. This type of cage needs strong stakes well tied for support.
   
   

Fertilizing

1. Choose whether to use chemical fertilizers. Do not use lawn fertilizer. The ratio of minerals in lawn fertilizer is for growing stems and leaves. Look for a vegetable fertilizer which is for stimulating fruit. Tomatoes can grow very well organically, provided the soil is well enriched with organic matter. If you do use chemical fertilizers, try using half the recommended concentration per gallon (using package directions), but fertilize twice as often, in order to avoid the stress caused by the feast-famine of the longer fertilization gaps.
   
   
   • Over-fertilization can cause plants to grow too quickly, leaving them more susceptible to disease and insects.
   • Remember that your goal in growing tomatoes is fruit, not just leaves. Fertilizers, especially when used in excess, or the wrong kind may cause the plant to produce more leaves and foliage than fruit.
2. Shake your plant poles or cages gently once or twice each week for about 5 seconds once flowering begins to promote pollination of the blossoms (from one flower to another). According to the National Gardening Association, shaking the tomato plant increases fruit production by more evenly distributing pollen.
   
   

Fruiting

1. Watch for fruit to appear 45 to 90 (about 60) days after transplanting. Tomato plants usually have small, green fruit to start. Wait until the fruit is of good size with a bright, deep coloring: This means that the fruit is ripe and ready to pick. The texture of the fruit can also determine when it is ready to pick. Ripeness is usually determined by a slight softness. Be careful to only "palm the tomatoes"; do not squeeze with the finger tips and bruise the fruit.
   
   
   • Also, be careful of not allowing it to become overly ripe, which results in a very soft tomato.
   • Realize that birds, possums, raccoons and some dogs will take ripened tomatoes, corn and sweet green peppers, etc.
2. Pick fruit earlier to ripen indoors if you like: Fruit may be picked any time after it starts changing to its ripe color and set on a sunny windowsill. This will reduce the chances of it rotting on the vine or being eaten by a bird or squirrel.
   
   
   • Tomatoes do, however, taste sweeter when ripened on the vine, so you need to balance risk of threats versus taste.

Protecting ripe fruit from "critters"

1. Place a "zip-" of "snap-" seal sandwich type of bag over the nearly ripe fruit, very carefully, from the bottom up onto the stem to protect ripening tomatoes from predators.
   
   
2. Close the bag from both sides at the top, above the fruit, coming near the stem, leaving about 1/4" (.6cm) on each side for air flow.
   
   
3. Cut the lower corner for drainage and air flow. In hot weather, carefully punch more air holes, 1/2 inch slits (1.2cm), or smaller, will work.
   
   
   • Don't be disappointed by losing fruit to the animals; spend the time bagging it!

Another tip is to put red Christmas tree ornaments around the top of the tomato cage. The birds will peck at them, be confused and leave your tomatoes alone.