Despite of living nearby reliable irrigation water source, rice farmers in Nyangala village have been producing rice once a year during rainy season using “Bamvua” a traditional system commonly practiced in Rufiji. Competitive African Rice Initiative (CARI) through Rice Market Hub (RIMAH) consortium has mobilized farmer groups and provided trainings, mechanization services, water pumps, improved seeds, inputs through pre-financing arrangement to these groups to enable them grow paddy during dry season. Mvomero and Upendo groups with 18 and 13 members respectively are among rice producers engaged who have started by opening a farm with total 20 acres of rice grown in dry season nearby Nyangala ox-bow Lake fed from Rufiji River.
“It is the first time to grow rice in dry season, using irrigation, improved seed and fertilizers. Through CARI we have used this opportunity and now I am sure of enough food for my family and additional income from rice time” Mariam Kassim, a farmer in Nganyala said during our visit on 16th December, 2016. “We are happy for these interventions in our village as now I will get more than double of my income from paddy by growing paddy for two seasons using improved technologies and I am assured market by Mamboleo farm” Mariam added.
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