Cassava dealers urged be competitive by observing standards to
CASSAVA producers, processors and traders from four districts in Mtwara and Lindi regions have been urged to observe standards so that they compete in the domestic and global markets.
“When you increase cassava output and process in required quality standards, you will successful support the government in its quest to develop industries, provide jobs to various groups in the society and compete in the markets,” said the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) Research and Training Manager, Mr Hamis Sudi.
Mr Sudi made the call recently during the training to cassava producers, processors and traders from four districts namely Nachingwea, Masasi, Mtama and Newala.
He urged entrepreneurs to put efforts and increase cassava output, observe quality and safety in order to protect the health of the consumers and contribute to economic growth.
“This substantiates the government quest via its institutions to realise the national plans of building strong economy through investment in the industrial sector,” he said.
On her part, the TBS Southern Zone Manager, Ms Amina Yassin urged the training participants to understand the government intention of growing a robust industrial sector in order to be self-sufficient in producing various goods.
“If you manage to produce high cassava output and processing in observing quality standards, can be an important move in developing strong industrial economy in the country,” she said.
Some of the topics discussed during the training are namely standards and its benefits, requirements of cassava, good cassava farming practices, good cassava processing practices, good health practices and processing technology.
Cassava is the third most important staple food crop in Tanzania after maize and rice where about 1.9 million stakeholders are involved in cassava production and/or other businesses along the entire cassava value chain.
Some of the challenges contributing to such low production and productivity include low application of improved technologies along the value chain. Other factors are infestation of pests and diseases.
Others are unreliable rainfall due to climatic changes; low levels of investment into cassava sub-sector, inadequate markets and limited market information amongst stakeholders.
Despite these challenges, cassava has a great potential in terms of food and nutrition security, income generation and provision of industrial raw materials.
There are still untapped or dormant markets in the country such as use of cassava products in textile, breweries, pharmaceuticals and animal feed industries, biscuit factories, bio-ethanol and other food and non-food cassava-based products.
Similar to other crops, cassava has strong linkages with non-farm sectors through agro-processing, transportation, urban markets and export trade.
