Our Reporter
IRINGA, Tanzania — Tanzania’s Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Ambassador Dr. Bashiru Ally Kakurwa, has praised the scale of private investment in the dairy industry in Iringa Region, saying it demonstrates the potential of commercial livestock farming to transform the sector and strengthen national milk production.
Speaking after visiting dairy farming and milk processing operations at ASAS Farm and Dairy, Bashiru said modern livestock production must be guided by science, professional expertise and improved farm management practices.
He commended the company for employing qualified livestock professionals and urged farmers across the country to make greater use of technical knowledge to improve productivity.
“Tanzania has invested significantly in training livestock experts. Farmers should respect professional advice and provide experts with the opportunity and tools needed to apply their skills,” he said.
The minister also lauded the company’s investment in rainwater harvesting infrastructure and pasture production, describing the initiatives as consistent with government efforts to encourage farmers to secure reliable sources of water and feed for their livestock throughout the year.
The remarks were made during a field visit involving members of Parliament’s Standing Committee on Industry, Trade, Agriculture and Livestock, which is touring key dairy production facilities as part of activities marking the National Milk Week celebrations in Iringa.
Committee chairman Deodatus Mwanyika said the investment had provided lawmakers with practical insights that would help shape policy recommendations aimed at accelerating growth in the dairy sector.
“This is the kind of investment Tanzanians want to see. We have abundant land, but we have not always used it effectively. If the country had even ten companies operating at this scale, the dairy industry would be far more advanced,” Mwanyika said.
ASAS Managing Director Fuad Jaffer thanked the government for its continued support, saying the company’s long-term strategy extends beyond milk production to include breeding high-quality dairy heifers for distribution to other farmers seeking improved livestock genetics.
The delegation also visited Shafa Dairy Farm and milk processing facilities, as well as a livestock farm owned by investor Richard Philips, popularly known as Kibebe.
Philips thanked the government for supporting livestock farmers through vaccination programmes against contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, commonly known as cattle lung disease.
National Milk Week celebrations are being held at Mwembetogwa Grounds in Iringa and are expected to culminate on June 1, bringing together farmers, processors, investors and policymakers to discuss the future of Tanzania’s dairy industry.
