Promote markets for larvicides, Dr Kijaji tells TBPL

COAST REGION: MINISTER for Industry and Trade, Dr Ashatu Kijaji, has called upon the Tanzania Biotech Products Ltd (TBPL) to promote markets for biotech products for killing mosquito larva.

Dr Kijaji made the remarks recently during her visit to TBPL which is under the National Development Corporation (NDC) at Kibaha in Coast Region.

She said it was time the NDC and TBPL had a marketing unit to ensure a reliable market for the products within and outside the country.

“A joint agreement between Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industry and Trade, the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Governments (PO-RALG), and the Ministry of Health is in progress that will ensure availability of market and promote products produced by the factory,” she said.

Dr Kijaji said 1.2bn/- has been spent on modernising the plant and increase its efficiency whereby the increased revenue helps to improve workers’ welfare, including health insurance and wage payments.

She also directed the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) to ensure that it provides a certificate of proof to the TBPL that will facilitate the industry to penetrate into international markets.

Dr Kijaji also urged the factory to ensure that by next month it starts producing Biopesticide to be distributed to farmers countrywide.

“I urge the director to increase the marketing of these products, go to all regions, every council and make promotion of the products and if possible, give them the biopesticide for trial,” Dr Kijaji said.

For his part, NDC Director General Dr Nicolaus Mashomo assured the Minister they have received her directives and promised to implement them so as to increase markets for the products from the factory.