Arusha — Pigeon peas, a leguminous plant that thrives well in nearly all agro-ecological zones of Arumeru district and fetches good price in the local and export market is capable of earning farmers of the district oodles of cash.

One bag of pigeon peas sells at Sh. 65,000 to Sh. 70,000, according to the district commissioner, Mr. Elias Wawa- Lali.

The crop has recently become popular as a cash earner for farmers in Babati, Kondoa, Karatu and Arumeru and other districts in Manyara, Arusha and Dodoma regions.

The DC speaking to peasants from King'ori and Mbuguni divisions last week during the farmers' day celebrations aimed to take stock of their achievements urged farmers to grow pigeons peas as a cash crop.

The promotion of the crop has been spearheaded by the Arusha-based Selian Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) with the support of the International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).

During the last season, the institute provided 1.8 tonnes of quality seeds which were distributed to the farmers of Arumeru district.

Mr. Wawa-Lali told farmers from the area who assembled at Kikatiti trial farms, along the Arusha-Moshi highway that, Arumeru would embrace pigeon peas as one the cash crops for small holder farmers after beans, maize and coffee.

Speaking during the event, Ms Grace Solomon, the Meru Council agricultural officer said some five tonnes of seeds would be distributed to farmers for planting during the coming season.

According to her, improved varieties of the crop propagated at the Selian institute were early maturing, high yielding and resistant to drought and diseases.

She said with proper crop husbandry, one acre planted with seeds of improved varieties can yield eight to eleven bags of dry pigeon peas ready for sale and export.

Mr. Philemon Mushi, a research officer with SARI, urged the small holder farmers in the area to form groups through which they can sell their farm produce and avoid the middlemen who have been exploiting them.

Pigeon pea grown in Tanzania, is mainly exported in raw form to India, Kenya and other Asian countries. Only a small portion is locally consumed.

There are reports that some buyers from Arusha were paying the farmers less than what the crop would fetch if the latter sold their produce as a group rather than individuals.

In the East African region, it is consumed mainly as dry grain. Elsewhere, it is a popular component of vegetarian meals, especially in Asia.

Tanzania is one of the biggest exporters in Africa alongside with Malawi and Kenya of the crop which is said to contribute to the diets of an estimated 1.1 billion people around the world.