PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa on Friday highlighted measures to contain possible hunger as poor rains are expected in most areas including food-producing regions.
Mr Majaliwa cited the recent weather forecast report issued by the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) which projects that from this November to April next year most parts of the country will receive below normal-to-normal rainfall.
Hence, significant deficit in soil moisture is expected to occur in many areas that receive seasonal rains and affect the growth of crops and the availability of pasture for livestock and wildlife.
“Due to this situation it is good that all stakeholders in agriculture sector take precaution over possible food shortage by preserving enough food until the country gets enough rains,” Mr Majaliwa said when adjoining the Parliament yesterday in Dodoma.
He directed farmers to continue applying better farming practices for sustainable agriculture which endures drought, including applying organic fertilizers, planting food crops that take short time to harvest as well as efficient use of water in irrigation schemes.
“Extension officers should continue to cooperate with research centres in their areas for the aim of getting and supplying technologies for food crop farming, including making close follow ups on weather forecast reports issued by the TMA,” he directed.
The Premier further instructed extension officers to observe Climate – Smart Agriculture Guideline of the year 2017.
He cautioned that people must use food cautiously, preserve enough food at family level and avoid misusing food such as using the food for making alcoholic drinks.
Speaking over the current country’s food situation, Mr Majaliwa said between June and July this year the government conducted preliminary assessment over food production in 2021/22 season in order to determine its availability in the country.
The assessment showed that production of food crops is expected to reach 17.4 million tonnes while the total demand for food in 2022/23 is 15 million tonnes.
“By looking at production and demand, the country is expected to have enough food by 115 per cent,” he stated.
In October, the government through the Ministry of Agriculture carried out an in-depth assessment over the situation of availability of food at household level at areas identified to have low production of food crops in 2021/22 season.
Upon the outcome of the assessment, the government through the National Food Reserve Authority (NFRA) has allocated 194,572,300 tonnes of food to supply to areas with the challenge of food availability.
Until last October the NFRA supplied food to a total of 20 district councils, including Liwale (200 tonnes), Nachingwea (100 tonnes),Bunda (400 tonnes), Geita TC (100 tonnes), Nzega (300 tonnes),Sengerema (300 tonnes), Monduli (100 tonnes), Ngorongoro (100 tonnes), Butiama (100 tonnes), Meatu (100 tonnes) and Kishapu (100 tonnes).
Others are Longido (1,872 tonnes), Urambo (100 tonnes), Handeni (100tonnes), Mkinga (100 tonnes), Chemba (100 tonnes), Chamwino (100tonnes), Mbulu (100 tonnes), Mwanga (100 tonnes) and Hai (100 tonnes).
“Despite these steps the government continues to make close follow-ups on situation of food availability, especially cereals and take various measures including supplying food from the NFRA,” he pointed out.