AVRDC

2(...continued from page 1)Morogoro’s rice-based system,farmers will need better access tocredit and inputs such as fertilizerand seed of improved, high yieldingvarieties with better resistance topest and diseases. Extensionservices also must be strengthenedto provide farmers with a reliablesource of information on integratedcrop and pest managementpractices.Victor Afari-Sefa (2nd from left), AVRDC Socioeconomist based in Arusha, visits the tomatowholesale market at Mlali, Tanzania.The World Vegetable Center inMvomero and Kilombero districtsin Morogoro revealed.The survey, part of a project toenhance vegetable value chains inrice-based and sole crop productionsystems in Morogoro, identifiedconstraints to the production,marketing and consumption oftomato, pepper, and Africaneggplant. The survey also assessedcommon crop pests and diseases inthe area and the contamination ofvegetables on farms and in marketsby microbes, pesticides and heavymetals.According to Victor Afari-Sefa,AVRDC Socioeconomist based inArusha, the survey found that toboost vegetable production inThe survey identified the need tobuild more robust marketinginformation systems to openopportunities for farmers to accesslarger, more lucrative markets suchas supermarket chains and foodprocessors. Skills development isanother area in need of attention;Victor noted farmers would benefitfrom training in recordkeeping andbusiness management.Project enumerators interviewed237 farmers and 28 value chainparticipants, including seed andagro-input dealers, vegetablecollectors, wholesalers, retailers,traders and consumers. Thegreatest challenges facing vegetable(left): Field interviews during baseline socioeconomic survey.(right): Interview with a local stockist (seed and agrochemical dealer)in Mvomero district, Tanzania. (...continued on page 3)