TANZANIA is geared towards an initiative to modernise livestock and fisheries sector and make it one of the biggest revenue generating sectors.
Speaking with the European Union (EU) Ambassador in Dar es Salaam, the Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Development, Dr Titus Kamani, said that they have set up a special initiative to ensure they reach that end.
Dr Kamani said that next month, they will stage a stakeholders’ forum which among others will discuss how best the initiative will be attained and the resolution will be taken as a working document towards sector modernisation.
“More than 40 per cent of Tanzanians are engaging in livestock keeping, and for a long time, the sector has not been given the needed attention.
Time has come to transform the way things are done and turn it into top revenue generation sector, the resources are there,” said Dr Kamani.
“The forum resolution will be used as a working document which will see transformation of the sector taking into account President Kikwete’s wish to see great changes before the end of his term,” he said.
He added that environment effects have brought about drought leading to lack of enough grazing areas, causing land conflicts between farmers and pastoralists.
Dr Kamani said they are also planning to open up new fisheries training institutions to meet the gap of experts by increasing the number of graduates from 1,500 to 2,500 in the next three years.
He invited the EU Ambassador, Mr Filiberto Sebregondi, to see how best they will improve their relationship for the sector development.
Dr Kamani said EU member countries are major consumers of local fish products, thus wants them to see into opportunities in livestock as well.
He said that in collaboration with EU they are running special projects to mobilize fishermen along the Indian Ocean, lakes and rivers to stop illegal fishing which affects breeding areas.
Earlier, Ambassador Sebregondi said illegal fishing using dynamite remains a challenge in fisheries industry saying it needs to be modernised whereas he urged the ministry to identify areas of support and see how they can join forces.
He also called upon the ministry to raise its fisheries profiles so that many people can bank on it.
“EU partnership with Tanzania is not about trade only, but we wish to support the fisheries areas as well, come up with areas of priority so that we support them,” said Ambassador Sebregondi.
Livestock and Fisheries Development Minister Dr. Titus Kamani welcoming the Head of Delegation of the European Union (EU), Mr.Filberto Ceriani Sebregondi in his office in Dar es salaam.