Dar es Salaam, 1st April 2012:
MUVEK Development Solutions launch of Research Into Use (RIU) Programme
knowledge outputs on 28th and 29th March, 2012 has been very successful.
At the launch Prime Minister Honourable Miz engo Pinda commended RIU
knowledge innovations in making indigenous poultry keeping an important
economic venture that could play key role in poverty eradication.He said
the Government would help small scale chicken keepers to improve their
livelihood. Muvekand RIU have been rooting for farmers to rear indigenous
chickens on larger scalesusing improved ways. “Indeed Muvek through RIU
have been an eye opener. By enabling small scale farmers to keep 100 to 400
chickens MUVEK and RIU have proved that indigenous chicken farming can be
used for poverty eradication,” the Premier said.
“I have taken note of this development….the high potential indigenous
poultry keeping has for economic development at the grassroots. With all
these stakeholders working together, as I have learnt during the
exhibitions, there is no doubt that the sector can grow and our people can
earn decent incomesup to three times a year. I promise the government’s
taking up the lessons very seriously when planning. I have also noted some
challenges facing the sector which we will have to work on them as a
government,for example in lowering feed prices” he said. Regarding
complains that farmers pay high taxes, the Premier said farmers are not
supposed to pay tax but the buyers of their produce.
MUVEK board chair, Prof. LusatoKurwijila of Sokoine University of
Agriculture was categorical that a sub-sector like indigenous chicken
farming, if promoted adequately, it would enormously improve the lives of
ordinary Tanzanians, as it is a conducive business in vast parts of the
country .
He said it was fallacy to think that exotic chickens or so called improved
breeds are better in commercialization than indigenous ones. “What we