Govt to spend 26bn/- to strengthen plant health services

THE government together with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Union (EU) have launched a project to strengthen plant health services in the country worth 26bn/-.

The project aims to ensure plant health and food safety in order to enhance safe agricultural trade, both domestically and internationally.

Speaking on behalf of the FAO Resident Representative in Tanzania, Nyabenyi Tipo, during the first workshop on project implementation, the organisation’s Plant Health expert, Mushobozi Baitani, stated that the project has prioritised building strong inspection capacity.

Baitani explained that inspections are carried out on traders who need to export their agricultural products, ensuring that they have proper documentation and that no harmful pests are introduced to the destination country.

He also emphasised the importance of protecting the country by inspecting imported goods, preventing harm to farmers and ensuring the use of pesticides within acceptable limits for human consumption.

The Acting Director-General of the Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticides Authority (TPHPA), Professor Joseph Ndunguru, highlighted significant achievements brought about by the project in various areas.

He mentioned establishment of 14 small laboratories at border points, airports and ports, as well as the procurement of seven vehicles, 19 motorcycles and 20 unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) equipped with cameras to enhance pest monitoring.

Furthermore, 20 plant health inspectors have been trained in operating the aerial drones and the renovation of small laboratories at border stations and the main laboratory has been completed.

Prof Ndunguru explained that these laboratories will be equipped with tools capable of detecting plant pests, diseases, and insects in various crops, especially those being exported and imported.

He added that this will facilitate the smooth export of agricultural products, ensuring that Tanzanian produce is free from pests and thereby strengthening the market.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s vision of feeding the world through productive and high-quality agriculture exports was also emphasised.

Prof Ndunguru highlighted the need for the country to have the capacity to inspect crops for pests in both imported and exported agricultural products.

In his opening remarks at the workshop, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Hussein Mohamed Omar, stated that the project aims to address operational and technical deficiencies related to plant health in the country.

He emphasised that these deficiencies have hindered agricultural trade and posed a threat to food security and the project will enhance the safe trade of agricultural products.

Dr Omar explained that the increase in international trade and travel provides opportunities for invasive pests and diseases to spread through travellers and agricultural products, posing a significant threat to agriculture, including gardens, forests and ecosystems.

He mentioned several invasive pests that have affected Tanzania in the past decade, such as fruit flies, fall armyworms, banana wilt disease, locusts and maize stemborers.

He said these invasions not only threaten food security and impact international trade of Tanzanian crops, such as fruits and vegetables, in various global markets.