Tanzania Lunches Over 174USD million Initiative To Improve Performance Of Dairy Sector

 

By Senior Reporter VALENTINE OFORO 

The objectives of the project is to  improve income, climate resilient and nutrition of smallholder dairy producers, and their participation in a competitive and safe value chain.

IN efforts to curtail effects of climate change which are thwarting performance of the dairy sector in Tanzania, the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries has launched a ten -year ambitious project.

To gobble up to over 174.3USD million  upon completion, the robust initiative, christened ‘Smart Dairy Transformation Project’ (C- SDTP), will work to transform the whole value chain in the sector, through impacting performance and livelihoods of the smallholder dairy farmers within rural areas, in both Tanzania’s Mainland and Isle.

The sum for the project implementation  has been sourced from friendly loans from key donors in the sector, as well as subsidy money from the state coffer.

Involving donors in the project which will be implemented in ten regions and at least 28 districts, including International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Heifer International, Agency Francaise Development (AFD), Opec Fund, Green Climate Fund, and Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB)  among others.

Paper works for the crucial project begun two years elapsed, and being a fruitful stage of it implementation, the project’s maiden inception workshop is taking shape for five consecutive days was held in Dodoma Capital City.

The workshop which attracts livestock pundits from the parent ministry, diverse livestock departments and the donors, provides key podium for the participants to develop and set needed roadmap for the professional implementation of the initiative.

Among others, the initiative target to contribute to the transformation of the dairy sector value chain to improved livelihoods, increase food safety, as well as mitigating the impact of dairy sector on climate change.

The objectives of the project targets is to  improve income, climate resilient and nutrition of smallholder dairy producers, and their participation in a competitive and safe value chain.

The beneficiaries of the project, to take into account 40 percent of women and 30 percent of youth, are the rural households involved in dairy production, processors, traders and milk transporters.

The regions to be impacted by the initiative include Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Coastal, Morogoro, Tanga, Iringa, Njombe, Mbeya for Tanzania’s Mainland, whereby Unguja and Pemba island will benefit the same for the side of Zanzibar.

The project key implementors among others include the Tanzania Livestock Research Institute (TALIRI), Zanzibar Livestock Research Institute (ZALIRI), Department of Livestock Development (DLD), State University of Zanzibar (SUZA), Livestock Training Agency (LITA), National Artificial Insemination Center (NAIC), the Veterinary Laboratory Agency (TVLA) and the Tanzania Dairy Board (TDB).

Breeding and genetic improvement, enhancing availability of water to livestock and scaling digitalization of improved productivity stands among helpful activities that the project will accomplish.

Other activities will base on general mission to support annual disease intelligence, vaccination camping, contigence fund and establishment and strengthening animal health laboratory infrastructure.

Officiating the inception workshop for the project,the Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Prof Riziki Shemdoe emphasized over the need to ensure the project reflects value for involved money.

He said, the project was the first of it kind in Tanzania, and it involve huge money thus, the implementors must stand watchful and patriotic to ensure it fetches targeted outcomes.

” We have been working for two years now to ensure this project takes off, if implemented to it’s designed strategies and time frame, this initiative will bring about total transportation of the country’s dairy sector,” he observed.

He insisted that women and youth participating in the sector must be given first priority.

” My strong and very important message to you all is to ensure the key project is implemented in a positive manner to bring about projected outcomes, through reflecting value for money,” he insisted.

He hailed President Samia Suluhu Hassan for letting the project materializing, as well as the development partners for their readiness and commitment to finance it.

For his part, IFAD Count Director, Mr Sakphouseth Meng, who also stand on behalf of Opec Fund, said IFAD who is the lead funder of the project was ready to cooperate with other co- funder to ensure for best results.

“This project aligns with the core vision of IFAD, which among others work to address effects of climate change in agriculture and dairy sector,” he said.

He said in the implementation of the project, IFAD will provide guidelines and technical support, including mobilizing more stakeholders to chip in and roll out needed supports.

Dr Lazaro Kapella, the coordinator of the project, said the initiative will address greenhouse gas emissions towards the sector, as well as other challenges.

With the project, he said there will be procurement of a total of over 17,500 improved dairy cattle, to be distributed to the beneficiaries.

He added, the project will also launch a series of training programs to capacitate the beneficiaries with best dairy cattle keeping practices.

Mr Steven Michael, the Director of Production and Marketing at the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries said the project will largely invest into introduction and adoption of high- technologies in the dispensation of livestock extension services, but also, several program will major on conduction of scientific research.

Prof George Msalya, the Registrar of the Tanzania Dairy Board (TDB) said implementation of the project will help to boost milk production volume in the country.

According to him, the country is annually production 3.9 billion liters, to allow each individual in the country to consume at least 67.5 litters in a year, which is below comparing to the set FAO milk drinking recommendation, which is at 200 liters per individual in a year.

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