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Govt urges Bakers Association to uphold standards

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzanian government has urged the Tanzania Bakers Association (TBA) to uphold high-quality standards to protect consumer health and enhance business growth.

Deputy Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Daniel Sillo, emphasised that maintaining product quality not only boosts market competitiveness but also facilitates business expansion.

“I commend the TBA for the significant progress it has made in less than three years, including coordinating over 400 members,” Mr Sillo said at a recent event in Dar es Salaam attended by TBA members and other stakeholders.

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Mr Sillo highlighted that high-quality products build consumer confidence, which is crucial for sustaining market positions.

He also underscored the bakery sector’s vital role in the community, particularly in job creation. Regarding concerns about Value Added Tax (VAT), the Deputy Minister assured bakers that the government would carefully review the issue.

He encouraged bakers to maintain integrity in their business practices despite existing challenges.

Statistics show that approximately 70 per cent of the country’s wheat flour is used by the informal sector.

In the 2023/24 fiscal year, formal bakers utilised about 35-40 per cent of the 800,000 tonnes of wheat flour consumed.

During this period, the country imported 900,000 tonnes of wheat, with 800,000 tonnes processed and entering the market.

In an interview with the ‘Daily News,’ Azania Group of Companies Business Director, Mr Joel Laizer, highlighted the bakery sector’s contribution to the national economy, particularly in employment opportunities for youths and women.

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The 6 per cent increase in wheat consumption for 2023/24 reflects rising consumer demand and job creation.

Mr Laizer also noted that Azania, in partnership with the TBA, has trained over 200 youths in baking.

He pointed out that prior to the TBA’s establishment, there was a lack of sector coordination, but the training initiatives have helped boost the number of home bakers, benefiting the economy and creating jobs for young people.

Welcoming the Deputy Minister, TBA Chairperson Ms Frasisca Lyimo urged the government to remove VAT on bakery products to support market sustainability.

She also called on bakers to join the association to unify their efforts and achieve large-scale production similar to that in Kenya.

“We aim for mass production, which will only be possible if we all unite in the association and work collectively towards our goals,” said Ms Lyimo.

The TBA currently has 400 members, while the sector comprises over 800 bakeries.