What N2Africa learned about fertilizing beans
A short radio series called INUKA was developed to start conversations with bean farmers in Tanzania. It was broadcast on Radio Free Africa, a station with nationwide coverage in Tanzania. The third episode was broadcast on Sunday 21 June 2015 between 7:00 – 7:30 pm. It was commissioned by N2Africa and production co-ordinated by Farm Radio International.
The poll question was designed to understand:
- If farmers are using any kind of fertilizers on their bean plots
- If yes, then what varieties of fertilizers they are using and if not, then why are farmers not using fertilizers
A total of 1194 people participated in the poll.
Question 1: “Which kind of fertilizer are you using in your bean farm?”
- 462 ( 39 %) did not use any kind of fertilizer
- 412 ( 35 %) used organic fertilizer
- 79 ( 7 %) mix organic and inorganic fertilizers
- 68 ( 6%) used inorganic fertilizers
- 173 ( 15%) respondents said that they are not bean farmers
Question 2: “ What variety of fertilizer are you using? ”(so, this is the breakdown of the 13% – that used inorganic fertilizer)
- 61 (45 % ) used urea
- 28 ( 21 %) used Minjingu
- 21 ( 15 %) rused DAP
- 17 (13 % ) used CAN
- 9 ( 7 %) used SA
There was also a follow up question to the 462 respondents who mentioned not to use any kind of fertilizers. The following were some of the reasons mentioned;
- 162 (37%) mentioned costs
- 89 (20%) mentioned lack of availability of fertilizers
- 83 (19%) mentioned they believed that fertilizers aren’t needed on a bean farm
- 40 (9%) said they felt fertilizers are poisonous hence affects the soil
- 65 (15%) mentioned other reasons but not specified which are those reasons