Only proper marketing will benefit farmers
For producers or sellers of any merchandise, the importance of marketing cannot be overemphasised. By way of marketing, products in abundance in one area can be hauled to others that are facing shortages. As a result, prices would be pushed down for the benefit of consumers.
It was most likely with this in mind that recently, the Kilindi district commissioner, Mr Charles Gishuli, suggested that the crop marketing system in that district should be improved to enable farmers to sell their produce smoothly.
He was speaking to the management of the Rural, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Support Programme.This programme sees to it that sunflower and citrus projects are supported by the Small Industries Development Organization (SIDO) and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), an arm of the United Nations.
The DC’s advice should not be taken lightly, considering that this country has in the past been badly affected by poor marketing systems. Stories abound of areas in the country facing food shortages while in others food stocks pile up because of poor transportation systems.This is a paradox that needs an urgent solution like intensive marketing strategies. However, to make them effective, there is a need, among other things, to upgrade our transportation infrastructure.
This includes roads, railways and to some extent air travel, all of which need massive investments.
It is encouraging that, according to the last budget, infrastructure was allocated Sh1,505.1 billion.
This is more than the Sh1,096.6 billion of 2009/10, and represents an increase of 37.3 per cent. Yet it is not enough considering that ours is a vast country, covering some 362,340 square miles.We hope that as the country’s economy grows the government will apportion more funds to this sector in order to realise the marketing strategy as suggested by the Kilindi DC.
It was most likely with this in mind that recently, the Kilindi district commissioner, Mr Charles Gishuli, suggested that the crop marketing system in that district should be improved to enable farmers to sell their produce smoothly.
He was speaking to the management of the Rural, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Support Programme.This programme sees to it that sunflower and citrus projects are supported by the Small Industries Development Organization (SIDO) and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), an arm of the United Nations.
The DC’s advice should not be taken lightly, considering that this country has in the past been badly affected by poor marketing systems. Stories abound of areas in the country facing food shortages while in others food stocks pile up because of poor transportation systems.This is a paradox that needs an urgent solution like intensive marketing strategies. However, to make them effective, there is a need, among other things, to upgrade our transportation infrastructure.
This includes roads, railways and to some extent air travel, all of which need massive investments.
It is encouraging that, according to the last budget, infrastructure was allocated Sh1,505.1 billion.
This is more than the Sh1,096.6 billion of 2009/10, and represents an increase of 37.3 per cent. Yet it is not enough considering that ours is a vast country, covering some 362,340 square miles.We hope that as the country’s economy grows the government will apportion more funds to this sector in order to realise the marketing strategy as suggested by the Kilindi DC.
Train more teachers
Reports showing that a region with a requirement of 3,470 teachers has been provided with only 1,344 is disheartening, for that is equivalent to a shortage of more than 50 per cent!
We are talking about Dodoma Region where, of the 18,121 students who sat their final national exams last year, 11, 326 failed.
Which is no wonder, for without teachers, pre-high school students can’t learn much. It is a great pity that while the whole world is embracing science and technology, we put our children in schools where they hardly learn anything.
According to the acting Dodoma regional education officer, 30 per cent of students who registered for the 2008 national examinations did not turn up for the papers.
We are talking about Dodoma Region where, of the 18,121 students who sat their final national exams last year, 11, 326 failed.
Which is no wonder, for without teachers, pre-high school students can’t learn much. It is a great pity that while the whole world is embracing science and technology, we put our children in schools where they hardly learn anything.
According to the acting Dodoma regional education officer, 30 per cent of students who registered for the 2008 national examinations did not turn up for the papers.
Most likely, a good number of the no-show candidates considered it a waste of time to sit the exams, since they had not been prepared for them in the first place.Our concern is that the damning report on the Dodoma education situation could be a mere tip of the iceberg.
Boasting that 70 per cent of our children who pass their national primary exams join secondary school is not good enough. Our young should join secondary school to gain quality education. That means, among other things, having for them enough and qualified teachers. The government has no choice but to train more teachers.
Boasting that 70 per cent of our children who pass their national primary exams join secondary school is not good enough. Our young should join secondary school to gain quality education. That means, among other things, having for them enough and qualified teachers. The government has no choice but to train more teachers.
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