New disease-resistant maize seed not yet out

Tanzania is among seven African countries where drought-tolerant maize seeds will be produced for distribution across the continent, The Citizen was informed here at the weekend.

Tanzania is among five countries in Africa to be covered by a new project to curb the spread of a disease lethal to the vital maize crop in sub-Saharan Africa.

>Agricultural scientists and other experts from across Africa are meeting in Nairobi today to discuss the threat posed by a maize disease to food security on the continent.

>Over 520 hectares of maize have been affected by lethal necrosis disease(LND) in Tarime District, Mara Region and the  report released by the agriculture and irrigation department shows that 16 out of the district’s  24 wards are deeply affected.

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Bad farming practices and lack of rain in the growing season are the main cause of the famine currently hitting Mpwapwa residents, it has been said.

>The government has promised to undertake measures which would ensure the country produces at least 30,000 tonnes of improved seeds by next year

The government has provided the drought-stricken Moipo Ward residents with relief food amounting to 150 tonnes of maize, as it urged residents of the district to consider exchanging their livestock with foodstuff.

An initiative called the African Seed Access Index is launched to help improve smallholder farmers' access to a wider variety of food crop seeds.