TZ increases livestock feed production

DODOMA: TANZANIA boosted domestic production of processed livestock feed from 1,380,000 tonnes in the year 2021/2022 to 1,580,000 tonnes in the year 2022/2023.

This was revealed by the Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade, Mr Exaud Kigahe during the question-and-answer session in Parliament on Friday.

He was responding to legislator Jacqueline Msongozi (Special Seats, CCM) who had inquired about the government’s plan to promote livestock feed production industries in the country.

The deputy minister said the government continues to enhance the business and investment environment and promote the establishment of industries in the country, including livestock feed production industries that largely utilise agricultural raw materials such as maize, soybeans and sunflower cake.

Mr Kigahe revealed that 22 new livestock feed production industries have been registered in 8 regions: Arusha (4), Kilimanjaro (3), Dar es Salaam (4), Morogoro (2), Iringa (3), Mbeya (1), Coast (3), and Shinyanga (2), leading to an increase in the number of livestock feed production industries from 199 in the year 2021/2022 to 221 in the year 2022/2023.

“The government will continue to promote investment in livestock feed production industries and ensure that the produced feeds meet the required standards according to the needs of the respective livestock.

Ms Msongozi also asked if the government is prepared to authorise the importation of livestock feed and decrease levies for local producers to address the existing shortage and high costs of feeds.

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Deputy Minister Kigahe responded by acknowledging that the country is facing shortage of livestock feeds and permits importation of feeds, with 60 per cent of the feeds imported.

Nevertheless, he emphasised that the government’s strategy is to bolster domestic industries and has been providing incentives to local producers.

In an effort to promote the growth of the livestock sector, the government has come up with the Livestock Sector Transformation Plan (LSTP) 2022/23 – 2026/2.

The LSTP sets out livestock-sector investment areas, including productive high-quality livestock breeds; water, pasture and animal feeds; animal health; extension services; livestock research and training services; value addition of livestock products; and national ranching company.

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During the five years of its implementation, the LSTP intends to strengthen the livestock sector to be more productive, contribute to industrial economy and widening the extent of domestic and foreign market of livestock and livestock products.

The plan, specifically, aims to improve livestock breeds in order to increase livestock productivity; improve access to pasture and water for livestock; strengthen animal health systems, veterinary public health, quality control of livestock inputs and facilitate achievement of safety standards of livestock products for domestic and foreign trade; enhance provision of extension services for commercialisation of livestock farming; to strengthen provision of research and training services; to promote value addition of livestock products; and create enabling environment for business and investment in the livestock sector.