Tanzania: Cotton Farmers Urged to Embrace Best Practices

What the report says

Cotton farmers in Tanzania’s Mwanza region were urged to adopt better farming methods during training sessions held in Ilemela Municipality as part of the Nanenane agricultural exhibitions, according to AllAfrica’s report from Tanzania Daily News. The guidance came from Cotton Board agricultural officer Onesmo Kiwango, who said improved practices are needed to raise output and improve cotton quality.

The training focused on what the board described as the main principles of good cotton farming. These included preparing land early, using farmyard manure and other organic inputs to strengthen soil fertility, planting the recommended number of seeds per hole, thinning seedlings properly, weeding on time and applying pesticides carefully to control pests. Kiwango also advised farmers to plant soon after the rains begin, or when rain is expected, so the crop can establish well.

The report said Kiwango explained that manure and organic fertilisers can help soil retain moisture and support higher harvests over time. He also gave specific planting guidance based on whether seed still has lint attached. Some farmers welcomed the training and asked for similar programmes to reach rural communities more widely. The effort reflects broader agricultural extension work in Tanzania, where cotton remains an important cash crop and improved field management is often promoted as a way to boost productivity and quality.