Tanzania: The crop doctor is in the market (by Adam Bemma, for Farm Radio Weekly)

| June 16, 2014

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Dark clouds fill the sky, blocking the view of snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro. Rain pours down on the bustling market in Himo town, about 100 kilometres east of Arusha.

Farmers come from all over northern Tanzania to visit the bi-weekly “plant clinic” at the market. Some even travel across the border from neighbouring Kenya.

Wilson Mchomvu is an agricultural extension officer, but attends the market as a “crop doctor.” He hangs up a large sign at the entrance to the market. The sign welcomes farmers and invites them to bring their unhealthy crops to his table for a free examination.

Kilimanjaro farmer Peter Chambegha enters the market cautiously, stepping through thick mud which collects on the bottom of his shoes. He is carrying a diseased sweet pepper.

The crop doctor has office hours every Monday and Thursday. Most of his patients are vegetables, and their symptoms are quite common. As Mr. Mchomvu spreads information booklets and pamphlets with pictures of healthy orange carrots, red tomatoes and onions on his table, Mr. Chambegha greets him and takes a seat.

Mr. Chambegha hands the crop doctor the sweet pepper, saying, “I tried crop rotation, growing it with maize, beans and onions. But I think it has a fungal disease.”

Mr. Mchomvu pulls out a knife and cuts open the root of the sweet pepper. He explains, “Farmers bring me their crops and I ask them simple questions to find out the problem.”

At times the table is crowded with farmers asking questions about the beans, tomatoes and onions they bring for diagnosis.

Mr. Mchomvu says: “I receive farmers from Karatu [in Tanzania] to Kenya. If I’m asked a question and I don’t know the answer, I’ll try to get as much information as possible from the farmer.”

If the crop doctor doesn’t know the cause of the unhealthy crop, he consults information booklets provided by Plantwise. Plantwise is an initiative funded by an organization called CABI in order to improve food security by reducing crop losses.

CABI is working to establish plant clinics in 31 countries across Africa, Latin America and Asia. The organization’s spokesperson, Dannie Romney, says CABI is working alongside Tanzania’s Ministry of Agriculture and Irish Aid to establish plant clinics in markets across the country.

Ms. Romney expects that plant clinics will flourish. She says farmers find them useful, and that plant clinics increase farmers’ awareness of and interest in other services.

Mr. Mchomvu pulls out his prescription pad and writes his diagnosis. He tells Mr. Chambegha, “This season I’ve seen a lot of sweet peppers and tomatoes. I think a fungicide is needed.”

Mr. Chambegha takes the prescription with the diagnosis in both English and Swahili. He says, “This is my first visit to the plant clinic. I called ahead to check its time and location. I’m pleased with the help I received.”

Mr. Mchomvu thanks him for visiting, then says: “The plant clinic is making our lives easier. As extension officers, we don’t have to go to farmers in the villages any more. They can find us in the market.”