November 8, 2006

Tanzania to revive cattle industry

Tanzania has enacted a law to regulate production, processing and marketing of meat products passed to develop the livestock industry.

Tanzania has an estimated 17 million head of cattle and many other livestock, however the livestock sector's contribution to the GDP was minimal due to governmental neglect.

The bill proposed a new initiative to oversee all activities in the sector. Boards will be formed at the local government level to monitor processing and marketing while a council formed from industry members would advise the minister on how best to manage the industry.

Among the problems facing the industry are poor extension and marketing services; lack of assigned land use and low promotion of commercial ranching.

Estimates show that beef production accounts for 40 percent of the livestock industry but less than two percent of the total herd is under commercial ranching as most animals are produced under backyard farming.

The government also plans to revive the meat canning and milk packaging industries. This would minimise the cumbersome export of live animals and boost export revenues.

The government MPS feel it is unacceptable that the country should continue to  import large quantities of beef, milk and poultry when their country is potentially self-sufficient in those products.