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TPA eyes boosting perishable produce shipment

TANZANIA Port Authority (TPA) is fostering transportation of perishable agro produces including meat and fish by using cold containers to enable traders tap the global markets

The statement was made on Thursday by TPA’s Public Relations and Corporate Communication Manager, Nicodemus Mushi while briefing  Prime Minister, Kassim Majaliwa, who visited the authority’s pavilion at the ongoing Nanenane Exhibitions in Mbeya Region.

The response was after the Premier asked to know how TPA was strategised with its facilitates to handle famers’ perishable produce to reach the markets while still fresh.

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Mr Mushi said the authority was collaborating with private investors with cold containers to transport ease such perishables agricultural produce to the markets.

“As part of expansion of our Dar es Salaam Port, we are in the preliminary stage of building a cold room and a storage facility that will allow storage of perishables products including tomatoes before getting shipped to the overseas markets” Mr Mushi said.

He said the construction of the cold storage facility comes as part of the Dar es Salaam Port expansion efforts that culminated in constructive discussion with the Ministry of Agriculture and association of shipping perishable agricultural products among others as stakeholders in the business.

He further said the ports were playing a fundamental role in fostering the country’s growth of agriculture, livestock keeping and fishing sector through smoothened transportation, especially in ferrying agro machines and inputs including fertiliser from different parts of the world.

He said the ports have been also linking farmers with local markets to sell their produce, especially in lake ports including Lake Victoria, Nyasa and Tanganyika which are agro-business hub.

Taking note, Mr Majaliwa commended TPA management for collaborating with the private shipping investors specifically on designing solutions, which facilitate perishable foodstuffs’ access to the markets.

Elaborating, he directed the authority to timely complete the construction of the perishable products’ storage facility, which in turn will boost fishing, husbandry and fisheries sector to guarantee farmers and the country income.