The District has an area of 102,573 ha arable land for cultivation. The main cash crops are coffee, onion, wheat, barley, pigeon peas and sunflower while food crops comprise of maize, beans, finger millet and sorghum. The main crops diseases are gray leaf spot, coffee berry, maize leathel necrotic diseases (MLND) and wheat leaf rust. In 2015/2016 the District actual hectors cultivated were 48,197.1 ha for food crops and 27,782.5 ha of cash crops. Production for maize was 81,112.8 tonnes in 2015/16. However the District strategy is to increase production per unit area e.g. maize from the present 8-10 bags per acre up to 15 – 20 bags per acre. Reaching this target, food will be sufficient in the district. The District is putting emphasis on “Kilimo Kwanza” spirit.
Agriculture potentials
The total arable land in the district is 1,025.75 square kilometers which constitutes 31.1% of the total area. The potential land for irrigation agriculture is 6,231ha and the area under irrigation is about 4,050ha.The source of water are Qang’nded, Manyara (Chemchem) and Endashangwet springs. The large area under agriculture is very productive and connected well with rough road (gravel road)
Farm inputs
In the district farmers are advanced in agriculture since 65% of them use the hybrid seeds, industrial fertilizers and tractors in farm preparation. The average production for maize per hector is 3 tonnes in rain fed areas, 5.75tonnes under irrigation areas. This awareness makes Karatu to be the most productive area in agriculture produce in Arusha region.
