More than 500 farmers from 14 villages across Mbeya, Rungwe, and Ileje districts have received pyrethrum seedlings from Pareto Tanzania Company (PCT), in a bid to boost cultivation of the crop in the upcoming farming season.
The initiative is part of PCT’s broader effort to enhance pyrethrum production in the southern highlands by empowering farmers especially youth, women, and the elderly with the necessary resources and support.
Speaking during the seedling distribution exercise, Mr. Mussa Malubalo, PCT’s Pyrethrum Officer for Mbeya and Songwe regions, said that beneficiaries include individual farmers as well as institutions such as schools, churches, and village governments.
“Thanks to the positive response from farmers in these regions, PCT saw the importance of encouraging broader participation in pyrethrum farming,” said Malubalo.
“This season, we have many new growers and some elderly farmers who face difficulties in raising enough seedlings on their own. That’s why we decided to step in.”
According to Malubalo, the donated seedlings will be planted on over 100 acres of farmland, with an expected harvest of approximately 27,500 kilograms of dried pyrethrum flowers.
PCT invested more than TSh 19.48 million in acquiring the seedlings, hoping that with proper care, the farmers will enjoy a substantial yield.
Institutions that received seedlings include Sasyaka and Itala secondary schools, Iwala Primary School, and the Church of God–Itizi choir.
Local leaders have praised the company’s contribution. Anania Kabuje, the Village Executive Officer of Nsheha in Santilya Ward, Mbeya District, said PCT has been instrumental in supporting local development.
“Pyrethrum is the backbone of our village economy,” Kabuje said. “Many residents especially women, youth, and the elderly depend on it. It’s not just a crop, it’s a source of income that allows people to contribute to community projects like dispensaries and schools. We collect funds easily because people have regular income from this crop.”
Echoing this sentiment, Diana Mwashilawa, speaking on behalf of fellow villagers, thanked PCT for the donation, calling it a timely intervention that will increase both productivity and income.
“Pyrethrum has the advantage of multiple harvests in one season, unlike many other crops,” she said. “It offers a more stable and continuous income, and I encourage more people to shift towards it.”
Despite having the capacity to process over 6,000 tons of pyrethrum per season, PCT currently handles between 2,000 and 3,000 tons due to limited supply.
The company hopes that initiatives like this one will help close that gap by increasing production at the grassroots level.