Kilimo

The economy of Rufiji district is predominantly based on subsistence agriculture and fishing. In the absence of large scale farming, the farming practice is dominated by small holders.
 It is estimated that 95% of the inhabitants are farmers and fishers.  Main cash crops are cashew nuts, cotton and sesame.  Food crops are maize, paddy, cassava, beans and different types of fruits.  About 5% of the population is employee in central government, council and private organizations.

In Rufiji district, a total arable land covers an area of 4,824.38 sqkm. But only 800sqkm (80,000 ha) of the arable land is being under cultivation.
The estimated area for major food crops in the district are Cassava 16,845.5 hectare, Paddy 16,213.4 hectare and Maize 15,526 hectares .The main cash crops like cashewnut 4150 hectares and sesame 3088.5 hectares. The most predominant crops are cassava,rice and maize respectively.The district is also good producers of fruit and vegetables which fruits covers 14,295.4and vegetable crops  4367.5 hectares.

Irrigation Prospects
With the aim of stimulating modern irrigation in Rufiji district, the government of Tanzania in collaboration with some donors like Japanie
(District Irrigation Fund) is supporting Nyamweke irrigation skim in Utete.A total of 320 hectares were potentially identified for this type of
Irrigation by communities. About 120 hectares was in Ngorongo while 140 hectares were in Nyakitope Utete-ward and 60 in Segeni
Mkongo ward. Area under irrigation in Rufiji district was increased from 176 hectares in 2004/05 to 230 hectares and about 80,000 along
Rufiji is suitable for irrigation.Only 230 hectares are under irrigation particularly in vegetabele crops.Total of 640 hectares are in plan for improved
Irrigation while 79,360 need to be utilized for irrigation activities.

Farm inputs.
Now days the use of agriculture inputs is common in Rufiji district.The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives has been continually advising the usage of these kinds of fertilizers in order to increase crops yields and harvests as well as to combat shortage of food stuff in the country. Table below indicates consumption of fertilizers from 2006/07 and 2009/10.Commonly used fertilizers are Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) and UREA.This are mostly used for Rice and Vegetable production.The insecticides and fungicides commonly used are Karate 5 Ec,Selecron,Attakan,malathion and Dithane M45,Mancozeb,kocide 101,Ridomil

Availability of Improved Seeds in Rufiji district
Better crop yield not only depends on the application of fertlizers, but also to high extent on the quality of seeds used. High quality seeds easily germinate and provide high resistance from crops diseases .Most of farmers used saved seeds due lack of improved seeds in the district.These affects both quality and quantity of the products. Some they have to buy seeds from Agricultural seed Agency Morogoro. This is mostly done by Rufiji District council to assist the farmers either through programme of district agriculture development plan.To overcome such situation,the district has started training farmers on farm seed production
Through agriculture development plans (DADPS) one farmers group comprising of twenty members has been trained in quality declared seed production .To start with total of  seven hectares were planted. Out of that 1.2 hectare are of Rice (SARO TXD 306) and 1.6 are of maize (STUKA M1).

Marketing of crops
There are opportunities of market for food and cash crops. The available market are local market within the district.Due to the improvement of infrastructure such as Mkapa bridge, Tarmac Kilwa road, Songas electricity this ensure net work and smooth flow of business.Not only that but also export opportunities of horticultural and crops from Rufiji is possible.The available big market of crops in Dar es salaam can absorb the produce from Rufiji.The main issue is to improve yield interms of quality and quantity