Hike forest products revenue, TaFF tasked
THE Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Dr Pindi Chana has called on the newly appointed board of trustees of the Tanzania Forest Fund (TaFF) to look on creative measures and strategic plans to hike revenue obtained from forest products from the current 3.5percent in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Dr Chana issued a directive when launching a nine-member board led by Professor Shabani Chamshama. This is the third board since TaFF begun implementing its duties in 2011.
The minister tasked the board to come up with strategic reforms that would bring the fund to the next level, insisting that the country’s eco-tourism that was obtained in the forests was flourishing well.
According to her, the country’s forests covering about 48 kilometres of land was contributing between 3.5 and 4 per cent to the country’s GDP, asking the new board to look on measures that would hike the figures more.
“Let us look on how best we can increase the figure because many countries in the continent have been capitalising on forests in boosting the economies of their countries,’’ she said.
The minister further tasked the board to engage the private sector, which she insisted that it was key in maintaining and preserving the countries forests.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister in the ministry, Mary Masanja said that the ministry would accord the new board with all the necessary collaboration in ensuring that it was fully discharging its duties.
She asked the board members to observe professionalism, and efficiency as well as all laws, regulations and guidelines from top leaders.
Earlier, The Deputy Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Juma Mkomi said for the past 10 years that the TaFF has been implementing its duties, it had managed to collect about 62.2bn/- that was spent in running activities of the fund as well as implementing 738 different development projects.
According to Mr Mkomi new measures were needed to hike collections so that the fund can fully depend on itself.
“Currently all the 16 workers of the fund are from the ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, you need to ensure that you have your own staff so that you can increase performance and efficiency, directed the deputy PS.
