Tanzania To Start Exporting Powdered Milk To Algeria -

By Semaweb Senior Reporter

Tanzania is currently producing 3.9 billions liters of milk annually, being from 2.2 billions during 2015

TANZANIA is working to finalize some key negotiations and needed procedures in order to start exporting dry milk to Algeria, the Tanzania Dairy Board (TDB) has unveiled.

The vital development in the country’s dairy sector surfaced following a successful move by the Iringa-based ASAS Dairy Ltd to invest into a powdery milk processing factory, the country’s maiden powdery milk facility with capacity to produce at least 100,000 liters of the milk in a day.

Giving an exclusive interview to Sematv, the Registrar of the TDB, Professor George Msalya expressed that Algeria has dipstached a special request to start purchasing the said milk from Tanzania.

“We have the request in our hands and we’re currently holding professional talks with ASA Dairy to see how best we can cater for the potential market,” he said.

Together with that, the Don said the country was also exporting fresh milk to Yemen and some Arab countries, observed that there are more countries that have declare interest to purchase milk from Tanzania.

He attributed the development with the advancement in the milk processing sector within the country, saying currently there are at least five local factory with capacity to process milk through the Ultra High Temperature (UHT) technology.

He said the modern technology is producing the high quality with the life span of between nine months to one year.

“We have entered into agreement with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the crucial dairy business platform which will enable us to export more milk to diverse African countries in the future,” he informed.

However, the Registrar said the country is facing a serious milk gap of around 9 billion liters, the situation which is arm -twisting the country to import a total of 20 million liters annually.

“Currently, milk production in the country stands at 3.9 billions liters annually, being from 2.2 billions during 2015,” he said.

The dairy sector is one of the critical sectors in Tanzania with high potential for improving food security, improve resilience and poverty reduction.

Records at the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that the sector is currently attracting a total of 2.2 million households across the country, with the contribution towards the national Gross Domestic Products (GDP) standing at 2 percent.