MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE DIGITAL VERIFICATION SOLUTION FOR INPUTS (T-HAKIKI)

The Minister of Agriculture, Japhet Hasunga (second left) officially launches a special input verification service known as 'T-HAKIKI’ inside the Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation (TTCL) Pavilion, at the Nane Nane National Exhibition held at Nyakabindi Stadium Simiyu Province. Right are TTCL Director General, Waziri Kindamba and Director General of the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI), Patrick Ngwediagi (left) participating in the event.

The Minister of Agriculture, Japhet Hasunga (second left), the Director General of TTCL, Waziri Kindamba (right) and the Director General of the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI), Patrick Ngwediagi (left) applauding immediately after the launch.

The Minister of Agriculture, Japhet Hasunga speaking at the launch of a special input verification service known as 'T-HAKIKI' inside the Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation (TTCL) Pavilion, at the Nane Nane National Exhibition held at Nyakabindi Stadium in Simiyu Region. Right is TTCL Director General, Waziri Kindamba.

The Director General of TTCL, Waziri Kindamba speaking at the launch of a special input verification service known as 'T-Hakiki', held inside the Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation (TTCL) Pavilion, at the Nane Nane National Exhibition held at Nyakabindi Simiyu Region.

Director General of the Tropical Pesticides Research Institute (TPRI), Dr. Margaret Mollel speaking at the launch.

Director General of the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI), Patrick Ngwediagi speaking at the launch.

The Minister for Agriculture, Japhet Hasunga has officially launched a special input verification service known as "T-HAKIKI"; which is using technology to reimagine agriculture in Tanzania by providing accessible, scalable solution for smallholder farmers whilst bundling verification with the inputs farmers already use, in this case seeds and pesticides.

T-HAKIKI is an electronic verification system where you dial
*148 *52 # and enter the numbers in the scratch panel on the seed packets or on the pesticide bottles to confirm the authenticity of the input.

The launch of the service is aimed at liberating farmers in the fight against counterfeit seeds and pesticides, took place recently inside the Pavilion of the Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation (TTCL), at the Nane Nane National Exhibition held at Nyakabindi Stadium in Simiyu region.

Speaking at the launch, Hasunga said that counterfeiting in Africa’s agricultural input sector takes multiple forms- from imitation branding and packaging to partially diluted or entirely fake products.

As a result, it has created many challenges for the agricultural sector which is an important sector that contributes to increasing productivity in the national economy, in the sense that this service is a real savior for our farmers.

He said in ongoing efforts to support government efforts on towards agriculture, the Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation (TTCL) in partnership with Quincewood Group Limited and other agricultural sector stakeholders such as the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI) and Tropical Pesticides Research Institute (TPRI) have now come up with a technological solution to end the use of fake inputs in Tanzania.

In addition, the Director General of the Tropical Pesticides Research Institute (TPRI), Dr. Margaret Mollel said the

innovations went in line with the goals of President Dr. John Pombe Magufuli in revolutionizing the agricultural sector.

While the Director General of the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI), Patrick Ngwediagi said the service will help the farmers to understand the proper use of these inputs at their convenience just via their mobile phones.

“This is certainly the best revolution that will save the farmer but also help the Government dealing with unscrupulous traders. T-Hakiki will revolutionize agriculture sector and improve food security hence increasing the income of smallholder farmers and reduce the prevalence of counterfeit/adulterated agricultural inputs in Tanzania,” he said.

HOW T-HAKIKI WORKS!

In addition, TTCL Director General, Waziri Kindamba said the technology aims to open a new page for farmers by coming up with a solution that is easily accessible. Because the service will help farmers identify fake inputs and provide them with information as one of the steps to end the use of fake inputs.

“T-Hakiki is a USSD system where you dial *148*52# and enter the codes that are found once you scratch the labels on seed packages or pesticide bottles to verify the authenticity of the input.

The T-Hakiki service is available on all mobile networks and is free,” he said.