PLANTWISE ACTIVITIES IN TANZANIA

Mkondo, Cornelius Fabian Assistant Director, Plant Health Services

Plantwise Activities in Tz started immediately after the inception w/shop held in April 2012

Launching of Plantwise program in Tanzania in 2012: Support from policy makers must be sought

OBJECTIVES OF PLANT CLINICS

To transfer knowledge for smallholder farmers It is therefore a community based approach that empowers farmers to take field level decision in managing pests To enable farmers lose less of their crops and therefore feed more people For Tanzania, the approach is in line with Integrated Pest Management, a national policy in plant protection Early detection of pest incidences leads to minimum use of pesticides, therefore saving cost (profitability factor) and minimize pesticide impact on the environment and human health

Activities after the w/shop

CAPACITY BUILDING OF THE EXISTING EXTENSION SYSTEM

Training of Plant Doctors Distribution of plant clinics materials Establishment of Plant clinics Running of Plant Clinics

Activities after the w/shop

Follow up and technical back stopping of plant clinics activities Development of fact sheets Preparation of G & Y list for plant clinics Debriefing MAFS activities of plant clinics Review and planning Plantwise meetings

Plant clinics testing requires working toolkit eg dissecting kits

Plantwise partner & stakeholder w/shop to review progress & achievements of the 2012 & Planning of Plantwise activities for 2013

Plantwise Partners & Stakeholders involvement in running of Plant Clinic: Awareness creation to councilors (Local Govt policy makers)

Achievements
More than 500 farmers are aware of the new Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease in Africa which was reported for the first time in Kenya. Plant Clinics has created more demand fo rimproved extension services delivery especially outreach It is a motivation for extension agents to serve farmers Plant clinics is a means to link farmers with research and extension It has drawn support from Local Governments for a possibility of future financial support

Challenges
Limited capacity to meet increasing demand from farmers Limited resources to train more plant doctors and acquire associated tools Further increase awareness of policy makers esp local governments Lack of reliable means of transport for effective outreach

Target for 2013

To train 24 more plant doctors before July 2013 To establish 12 more plant clinics in Northern, Eastern and central zone Before July 2013 To do more awareness creation to the district authority in East and central zone before June 2013

Thank you for listening

By Cornelius Fabian Mkondo