MWANZA, Tanzania – Cotton farmers across Tanzania are being encouraged to abandon traditional farming methods and embrace modern agricultural technologies to significantly increase productivity and yields. The call was made by Dr. Thomas Bwana, Director General of the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), during a stakeholder review meeting for the Cotton Victoria Project held at TARI Ukiriguru centre on November 17, 2025.
The initiative focuses on implementing new planting techniques, particularly the SM60 x SM30 spacing method developed by TARI, which has proven instrumental in boosting national cotton production. Dr. Bwana highlighted remarkable transformations in yield, noting that farmers who previously harvested less than 500 kilograms per acre are now achieving yields exceeding 1,000 kilograms per acre after adopting the recommended practices.
The modern farming package promoted through the project includes several key components: proper planting timing, correct pesticide application, timely weed control, and the crucial SM60 x SM30 spacing configuration that optimizes plant population for maximum yield.
The Cotton Victoria Project, launched in 2016 to enhance cotton production across Tanzania, Kenya, and Burundi, has achieved substantial penetration within Tanzania. Current data shows the project’s technologies have reached 63 percent of cotton farmers across the country’s 11 cotton-growing regions.
Marco Mtunga, Director General of the Tanzania Cotton Board, emphasized the project’s impact, citing the Simiyu region where farmers have transitioned from using poor-quality seeds to adopting recommended measurements that produce higher seedling counts, directly contributing to larger harvests.
The stakeholder meeting brought together key sector players including researchers from TARI Ukiriguru, the Tanzania Cotton Board, representatives from the Brazilian Cooperation Agency, and the Brazilian Embassy in Tanzania, demonstrating the collaborative national and international effort behind this agricultural transformation.
