June 5, 2013

Tanzania plans to build more meat processing factories

As a way of adding value to beef, old meat processing factories in Tanzania will be revived with new ones being built all over the country.

The Deputy Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Development, Benedict Ole Nangoro has said.

Ole Nangoro told the National Assembly that to start with, modern abattoir in various regions with the latest one put up in Iringa Region worth US$596 million- in collaboration with the Agricultural Sector Development Programmeme (ASDP) and United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).

He was responding to a supplementary question by Aliko Kibona (Ileje - CCM), who wanted to know the government's plan to restore meat processing factories and build new ones.

He also wondered as to why livestock veterinary services in rural areas and livestock vaccinations have declined drastically, while most of the veterinarians live in urban areas instead of rural areas which is home for many livestock.

"We have started to revive and reconstruct meat processing industries and of late we have put up a modern abattoir in Iringa Region worth 596m/- and we are due to construct another one in Mbeya Region soon," he said.

He added that the government is committed in ensuring that veterinary services and vaccinations are sustained in rural areas. "We have created local capacity where our experts have been able to come up with vaccinations, but we need financial resources to produce enough vaccinations to meet our demands," he said.

Earlier in the basic question, Ludovic Mwanjale (Mbeya Rural - CCM) wanted to know the development made on the meat processing factory in Mbeya where the Prime Minister, Mizengo Pinda on his tour directed for its facelift if there is no investor. Mr Ole Nangoro noted that in March, this year, the Consolidated Holdings Corporation (CHC) issued an advert in the Government Gazette looking for investor to the factory.

"Following the advert, until April 24 which was the final day of receiving applications, three companies showed interest. They include Jovet Tanzania Limited, Tanfroz Tanzania Limited and Tandam Farms. Vetting is underway by a committee of experts and the decisions will be forwarded to CHC board," he said.