TPHPA collects 95 pc revenue in Q1
TANZANIA: TANZANIA Plant Health and Pesticide Authority (TPHPA) has collected 95.2 per cent of the amount targeted in the 2023/24 fiscal year, thanks to good use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
In just the first quarter of 2023/24 (July to September), the TPHPA has collected 6.143bn/- from its source out of 6.5bn/- targeted to be collected in this fiscal year.
“We continue to use and improve the use of ICT like the Agriculture Trade Management System (ATMIS), the Government Electric Payment Gateway (GEPG), the government payment system (MUSE), Tanzanian National e-Procurement System (TANePS) and the Planning and Reporting System (PLANREP) which has stimulated collection of government revenue,” the TPHPA Acting Director, Prof Joseph Ndunguru told ‘Daily News’ on Thursday.
Prof Ndunguru said that by the end of the financial year 2023/24 the authority will be able to collect more than 100 per cent of the estimated amount and thus be able to increase the amount of its dividends to the central government by 15 per cent from 968m/- intended to 3.6bn/- per year.
Apart from the systems, Prof said cooperation and good management have also contributed to being able to reach the goal.
In addition, Prof said the TPHPA raised its income from various sources including the issuance of permits where they issued 217 permits for fumigation and pest control services companies to services in cargo ships, grain storage warehouses and houses.
Other 39,230 plant hygiene permits were issued to facilitate the export of plants, cutting and various crops abroad and 5201 plant import permits.
Moreover, he said the authority will continue to provide training on the safe and good use of pesticides, spraying pipes and sprinklers to farmers and extension officers to improve the health of plants so that farmers can farm productively and increase income for families and the country as a whole.
He said that within the year they were able to provide education to 1,643 extension officers and 631 pesticide sellers from various areas in the country to increase the effectiveness of pesticides and protect the health of pesticide users, animals and the environment in general.
The TPHPA Chairman Prof Andrew Temu said the authority will continue to manage the International Plant Protection Conversion (IPPC) agreement which the government approved in 2005.
The intergovernmental treaty IPPC aims to protect the world’s plants, agricultural products and natural resources from plant pests.
“We recognise that the TPHPA is the official body of the nation to implement the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) agreement therefore we will carry out this responsibility in Tanzania mainland and provide any necessary support to Zanzibar to ensure that our country has a product that meets international standards and be able to compete in the market,” said Prof Temu.
The TPHPA was established by Act No. 04 of 2020 by merging the former Tropical Pesticides Research Institute (TPRI) with the Plant Health Service (PHS) unit under the Ministry of Agriculture to establish a legal system for the management and control of plant health, agricultural products and pesticides to meet the requirements of the IPPC on sanitary and phytosanitary measures and
ensure a safe environment for the health of humans, animals and plants, proper and safe use of pesticides in the country.
TPHPA manages seven zones which are divided into 36 stations in the country including land borders, ports and airports.
