Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda has commended the Millennium Villages Project (MVP) for proving that scientific agriculture can help peasants develop and overcome poverty.

Addressing residents of Ibiri village in Uyui district, Pinda praised the project which runs demonstration farms for the benefit of neighbouring communities as one that would change the way peasants approach farming.

He said he had learnt a lot from the Millenium Village project experts who use scientific agriculture as compared to the ordinary agriculture practiced by many peasants in the country. PM Pinda said that if other areas in the country adopted the project ideal, it would help the nation win easily in self food sufficiency and enhance kilimo kwanza to boost farmers' income.

He also directed all village leaders in the country to start scientifically cultivated farms for their people to emulate and fight against hunger and poverty. Mr Pinda was also impressed by a farm of a resident of Ibiri, Pascharia Petro who assured him of harvesting thirty bags of maize per acre. The team leader, Dr Gerson Nyadzi, said the project implements eight agriculture and environment MDGs.

He said one acre of maize produces about thirty bags at the cost of Sh285, 000 per acre which allows for a good profit. But Dr Nyadzi appealed to the Government and other stakeholders to assist peasants with agricultural equipment including power tillers so that they can speed up and increase their production and in so doing contribute more to the national economy.