TPHPA Launches Advanced DNA Sequencing Technology In Tanzania’s Agriculture Sector

TPHPA Director General, Professor Joseph Ndunguru

👉  TPHPA Director General, Professor Joseph Ndunguru expressed optimisms that the adopted technology will bring about major transformation into the county’s agriculture sector.

DODOMA. TANZANIA has become the first country in the world to introduce the advanced DNA sequencing technology in agriculture sector  following a move by Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticides Authority (TPHPA) to launch the cloud- connected technology.

Launched this afternoon, Wednesday August 6, 2025 at the ongoing Nanenane Agricultural Annual Festival in Dodoma Capital City, the useful technology is projected to enable Tanzania to enhance exportation of key economic cash crops to  international markets through improving phytosanitary measures, among others.

Advanced DNA sequencing technologies, particularly next-generation sequencing (NGS) and third-generation sequencing, have revolutionized genomics by enabling faster, more accurate, and cost-effective analysis of DNA. 

These technologies allow researchers to study genomes, gene activity, and genetic variations with unprecedented detail. 

Briefing over the development during the launch event, the TPHPA Director General, Professor Joseph Ndunguru expressed optimisms that the adopted technology will bring about major transformation into the county’s agriculture sector.

Moreover, the Don said the global- high tech will also impact other key sectors, including the forest and environment, wildlife and livestock, water, to mention but a few.

According to him, funds for adoption of the technology has been accrued from at least Euros 11 million that has been invested for the general performance of the country’s plant health service through cooperations from European Union (EU), Government of Tanzania as well as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). 

So far, he communicated that TPHPA has managed to procure a total of 20 portable DNA sequencers in readiness to offer the vital services across the country.

“The technology we have introduced in Tanzania has technological capability to perform numerous tasks, including pests and disease diagnostics, facilitation of boarder crop trade, biodervisity (plans and animal) characterization and identification of invasive weed species,” he informed.

Others works, he Prof Ndunguru detailed, include seed purity, livestock and animal disease identification, human disease pathogen identification and characterization, and forensic analysis.

“Not only that, but the technology is useful in performing environmental conservation, fast- tracking breeds, soil microbes identification, water contamination, wildlife tracking, establishment of DNA database, environmental impact footprints, identification of medicinal plants, tracking adoption of crop seeds, and verifying purity of planting materials,” he unveiled.

Expressed the task ahead, he said  state- owned agency with a mandate to regulate, coordinate, and promote plant health and phytosanitary measures in the country plans for the countrywide tour to assist the farmers in all agricultural zones to curtail plant diseases and pests through the technology.

“We’re going to cooperate with the ministry of agriculture and other institutions in the agriculture sector to ensure this technology impacts the farmers positively,” he assured.

The TPHPA Chief Boss hailed the government for enabling the authority to execute it key activities more professional, as well as the other development partners.

“As per the set plan, the agricultural extensional officers will also be trained on the technology,” he said.

He said the DNA sequencers will be placed at all borders of the country for effective monitoring of crops exportation and importation.

Between 2021/22 and 2023/24 fiscal period, TPHPA assisted Tanzania to pocket around 10million USD from exporting diverse economic cash crops outside the country.

Through the authority Tanzania has managed  to obtain for potential new crop markets in several countries abroad.

The countries, include Pakistan, China, India, Singapore, Indonesia and Mexico, among others.

END 

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