Short History of Kagera Region
Kagera region is located in the Northwestern corner of Tanzania on the
western shore of lake Victoria. The region neighbors Uganda, Rwanda, and
Burundi. The region is know n for its agriculture, its beautiful lush
landscape, and its wildlife.
The region has favorable climate and land for crop production. Different
crops are grown but Banana and Coffee are famous crops that are produced
in that region. Now days farmers have diversified into other crops like
Maize, Beans, Rice, Potatoes, Tea, Vegetables and Fruits to mention but a
few.
The main challenges in the region are lack of accessible markets for crops,
infrastructures that is roads, warehouses, technology, lack farm inputs like
seeds, fertilizers, tractors, low prices of their products, inadequate access to
safe water, lack of transport, lack of financial support to farmers, and
others.
It was during my vocation that I carried out this Research in different areas
of the region and recognized that many farmers do face many challenges as
mentioned above and more.
Research on Vegetables
After doing my research I found out that horticulture can be one of the
product that can be easily managed and make farmers earn more income.
The horticulture part of product that I carried out was Vegetables especially
Chienese and SP amaranthus (mchicha).
For smaller farmers who do not have enough fund can manage to do this
type of agriculture. You need a Starting capital of almost 100,000 Tanzania
shilling to purchase seeds, fertilizer especially cow dung, hoe and other
small inputs. Most of the citizens in Kagera own land therefore there is no
need of purchasing a plot but for those who do not have plot of land can
form a group of five to ten people so that they can borrow a plot for a
certain amount.
My Case Study
For my case I used my Dad’s plot to cultivate chienese and SP Amarathus
(mchicha) therefore I had no problem with a plot of land. I took a small
piece of land and grew these two crops. It cost me almost 30,000 Tanzania
shilling to purchase seeds, fertilizer(cow dung) and a hoe.
I prepared a land by removing weeds, stirring up(mixing) the soil with
fertilizer and watered the prepared land ready to spread the seeds.
After all the processes I started watering the planted land every morning
and evening. It was really an interesting work for me.
It took me 2 weeks for Sp Amaranthus to mature and 3 weeks for Chienese.
At the time I was waiting for the crops to mature I had already got orders
from TTCL a communication network Company and some people that
surrounded me . So by the time my product had matured I had no problem
with the market.
Preparation of Land
SP Amaranthus started germinating
SP Amaranthus ready to be Harvested
Chinese Seedlings
Chinese ready to be Harvested
Explanation of the pictures
The above pictures portrays how the two products that is SP
Amaranthus and Chinese were prepared till harvesting time.
The first picture shows the preparation of land where I mixed
the soil and cow dung to help the plants grow easily and faster.
The second picture portrays SP Amaranthus germinating after 3
days being planted. As days passed the product grew more and
more. When it reached 2 weeks SP Amaranthus was ready to be
harvested as shown in the Third Picture.
Explanation of the pictures
The fourth picture shows Chinese product. This product is not like the SP
Amaranthus when planting the seeds. I prepared a nursery for planting the
Chinese seeds as shown in the picture. After 1 week these chinese crops
were ready to be replanted in the prepared land.
When it reached the 3 week Chinese product was ready to be harvested as
shown in the Fifth picture.
On the 3th week I started selling the SP Amaranthus and on 4th week
Chinese product was ready for sale.
Myself on Farm
Agriculture Really Pays
I was very excited when I started making business because it
paid me good money per day. For example I could earn 5000
Tanzania shilling per day.
I did get some challenges too especially on the process of
watering the plants. This was due to a work I was volunteering
at Tanganyika Instant Coffee Company therefore I had no
enough time to remove some weeds which mixed with crops.
Another challenge was lack of enough market for my product.
Low price is another challenge that I faced during my business.
Lastly the existence of birds also disturbed me, when the crops are still
young there are attacked by the birds mostly the SP Amaranthus.
Agriculture Pays
I prospered with the Business till the day of returning to school for my
studies.
I really made some profits from the business and managed to enter in a
certain group of lending money cycle in our area.
From that point I realized that Agriculture Pays. Therefore I urge my fellow
Youth to do Agriculture because through it you can employ yourself and
earn something.
THANKS.
Prepared by
Agape Ishabakaki.