The Tanzanian government has called upon researchers to conduct studies that are practical and beneficial to the livestock and fisheries sector. The Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Ambassador Dr. Bashiru Ally Kakurwa, made the appeal during the 49th Professional Conference and 50th Annual General Meeting of the Tanzania Society of Animal Production (TSAP) in Iringa. Dr. Kakurwa emphasized the need for research that addresses the challenges faced by livestock keepers and improves their livelihoods.
Tanzania aims to achieve self-sufficiency in protein from meat, milk, eggs, and fish by 2050. To achieve this goal, the minister stressed the importance of increasing production, improving product quality, and ensuring reliable markets. He urged researchers to ensure that their findings reach livestock keepers and help them improve animal health, nutrition, and production methods while preparing for the impacts of climate change.
The minister highlighted that the success of research should be reflected in the availability of affordable and timely veterinary services, affordable medicine and feed, high-producing livestock, and markets with prices that benefit producers. Livestock keepers face challenges such as animal diseases, limited feed during the dry season, high input costs, and limited access to technology. Therefore, the dissemination of research findings should be accompanied by the capacity of livestock keepers to apply them practically.
The Chairman of TSAP, Dr. Zabron Nziku, requested the government to strengthen strategic collaboration with the society to link research, policy, and technology in addressing sector challenges. He said the society, with approximately 1,000 members, has completed 85% of the preparations to launch its scientific journal. The Iringa District Commissioner, Benjamin Sitta, emphasized that research should provide solutions to livestock keepers' challenges rather than ending up in documentation.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Dr. Fabian Madele, stated that the government is ready to collaborate with experts to develop research and innovation aligned with the National Development Vision 2050. The Director of the Agricultural Sector Support (ASAS), Fuad Abri, stressed the importance of research in increasing the competitiveness of livestock products.
A researcher from the Tanzania Livestock Research Institute (TALIRI), Gilbart Msuta, called for research findings to reach livestock keepers and be used to increase productivity. The conference was held under the theme, “Science, Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Livestock and Fish Value Chains.”
The event brought together stakeholders from various sectors to discuss ways to improve the livestock and fisheries sector. The government, researchers, and livestock keepers emphasized the need for collaboration to address the challenges facing the sector and to ensure that research findings are practical and beneficial to all stakeholders.
Key points
- The Tanzanian government urges researchers to conduct practical studies that benefit the livestock and fisheries sector.
- Tanzania aims to achieve self-sufficiency in protein from meat, milk, eggs, and fish by 2050.
- The government, researchers, and livestock keepers stress the need for collaboration to address sector challenges.
