Tanzania, November 2022

COURSE REPORT 

KATC, Tanzania

1. Background

Tanzania has been a key member country since Phase 1.　Since the 1970s, JICA has contributed to the development of irrigated rice cultivation in Moshi District, Kilimanjaro Region. As a result, the productivity of rice production in the irrigated areas of Moshi District in the Kilimanjaro Region succeeded in achieving 6 t/ha, which is much higher than the Tanzanian national average. Kilimanjaro Agricultural Training Centre (KATC), which has helped improve rice productivity by training irrigation officials and farmers and establishing and implementing useful training methods for farmers in model districts.

Since 2000, the technology transfer methods developed in this area were applied to the” KATC Phase 2 project “, implemented between 2001 and 2006, “Technical Cooperation in Supporting Service Delivery Systems of Irrigated Agriculture (known as TANRICE)”, implemented between 2007 and 2012, and “Project for Supporting Rice Industry Development in Tanzania (known as TANRICE 2)”, implemented between 2013 and 2019 mainly through extension training at KATC and MATIs focusing on promoting irrigated rice cultivation.

In addition, to meet the increasing demand for rice in the limited irrigated rice production areas, the new project as “The Project for Strengthening Capacities of Stakeholders of Rice Industry Development (as TANRICE3)” is planned from 2023 to expect achieved results in improving the training and extension system for irrigated rice cultivation technology.

Prior to the implementation of the TANRICE3, JICA has conducted “Data Collection Survey on Strengthening of Training System and Promoting Rice Cultivation Package in the United Republic of Tanzania (as TANRICE2.5)” in December 2021 – May 2023. The survey plans to conduct trial trainings and the findings and lessons learned from the trainings will be used to ensure the smooth implementation of TANRICE3. One of its activities includes “Strengthening of rice cultivation mainly in East Africa by sharing knowledge with neighbouring countries”.

Taking into consideration of the above-mentioned situations, JICA decided to provide a session of training on rice cultivation under the framework of JICA and KATC mainly to the neighbouring English-speaking countries where rice cultivation environments are similar.

The training was facilitated by the TG leaders which is composed of MATI’s tutors. The training course was organized and implemented as follows;

1.1     Objective of the training;

During this training course, the participants are able to:

1)  Share how participating countries are implementing their policies on rice crop extension.

2)  Share what technologies are being implemented in Tanzania on rice extension.

3)  Share what kind of training (content and methods) has been conducted to disseminate rice cultivation throughout the country, based on the general training on rice cultivation at TANRICE.

4)  Prepare an action plan on rice crop dissemination after returning to their home countries, using this training as a reference.

1.2     Participants

The group consisted of participants from 6 African countries; Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia. The group had 14 participants from the CARD member countries, together with one JICA Programme officer from JICA Uganda, Rwanda and Zambia Office respectively, 6 TG leaders and 12 TG members from KATC, making a total of 35 participants who attended the training.

2. Program

The six-day training program started on 24^th November 2023 with lectures, field visits, discussions, presentations, and the course had included the following topics:

• Presentation of rice extension policies on “irrigated rice cultivation” and “rainfed lowland rice cultivation” in participating countries,
• Introduction of training case studies conducted by KATC/MATIs, focusing on “the role of officials and farmers”,
• Field visit to two excellent schemes,
• Discussions with representatives of five advanced rice-growing schemes in Tanzania, focusing on “the relationship between the government and farmers”, and
• Preparation of an action plan for further improvement of rice cultivation in each participant’s country.

Its content was to share with other countries the training content and dissemination methods on rice farming technology that have been conducted at KATC/MATIs in Tanzania, which could be useful in other countries. The participants learned how the KATC/MATIs in Tanzania contributed to improve the rice production through interactive discussion.

There were a few points to reflect on regarding the training facilities and programme, such as the lack of Wi-Fi facilities in the venue and accommodation, the long distance from the accommodation, and the need to be more interactive, but the training contents were well received by the participants.

In order to enable follow-up and exchange of opinions with the participants of this training after they return to their respective countries, a “Regional Rice Training” group was set up for the participants of this training using “WhatsApp”.