Tanzania steps up efforts to produce quality seeds, promote deep-sea fishing.

MOROGORO: THE Tanzanian government has unveiled plans to improve infrastructure for the production of quality agricultural seeds, specifically maize, sunflower, beans, and legumes, alongside enhancing the fisheries sector.

The aim is to increase the availability of fish fingerlings and quality fish feed, reduce post-harvest losses of fish products, and promote deep-sea fishing.

These initiatives are being implemented under the Agriculture and Fisheries Development Programme (AFDP), which also aims to empower approximately 260,000 poor households, equivalent to about 1.3 million Tanzanians, across 11 regions of mainland Tanzania. The programme is designed to strengthen integrated food and nutrition security systems within 41 local government authorities in those regions.

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To ensure the effective implementation of the programme, the Prime Minister’s Office – Policy, Parliament and Coordination, which is responsible for overseeing AFDP, in collaboration with the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (TAMISEMI), convened a working session in the Morogoro region. The session brought together regional administrative secretaries and liaison officers from the respective councils to build a shared understanding of the programme’s execution.

Beatrice Kimoleta, Director of Regional Administration at TAMISEMI, officiated the session and urged the officials to closely monitor and manage all funds allocated for the project. She issued a strong warning against misappropriation or unauthorised reallocation of project funds.

“Let me emphasise—these funds must not be used contrary to the guidelines provided for this programme. The government expects to see tangible, positive results. Do not change even a single shilling of the intended use; doing so would be a betrayal to the intended beneficiaries,” Kimoleta stressed.

On his part, Salimu Mwinjaka, the AFDP National Coordinator, outlined the beneficiary regions as Morogoro, Manyara, Singida, Dodoma, Tabora, Mwanza, Lindi, Pwani, Shinyanga, Geita, and Tanga.

He further explained that by the end of the programme’s implementation, the government envisions having its fishing vessels operating in the Indian Ocean, local fish feed factories, increased availability of quality fish fingerlings, and high-quality seeds for crops such as maize, sunflower, and legumes. Additionally, residents of Zanzibar will benefit from the development of the seaweed sector.

The AFDP programme is expected to uplift livelihoods by boosting food production, increasing income, and improving nutrition through strategic investments in agriculture and fisheries.