The government has directed officials implementing a 10-year dairy transformation project to ensure newly acquired vehicles, motorcycles and technical equipment reach farmers and help raise milk production.
Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Bashiru Ally Kakurwa issued the directive on Friday after handing over six Toyota Hilux Double Cabin vehicles, 23 motorcycles and specialised extension equipment procured under the Climate-Smart Dairy Transformation Project (C-SDTP).
Dr Kakurwa said the equipment should be used to improve the delivery of extension services and increase productivity among dairy farmers rather than remain underutilised in government offices.
He also directed regional and local government officials in project areas to closely monitor the equipment and ensure it serves the intended beneficiaries.
“I urge all leaders in the project areas, from the regional, district, ward and village levels, to carefully manage these resources to ensure they benefit the project’s targeted beneficiaries, including 140,000 livestock-keeping households,” he said.
The equipment is expected to improve the ability of extension officers to reach farmers with technical advice and services, particularly in areas where limited access to such support can constrain dairy production.
Zanzibar Minister for Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources and Livestock Suleiman Masoud Makame, who received part of the equipment, thanked the government and called for proper maintenance and use of the resources to improve productivity in the dairy industry.
Earlier, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Agnes Meena said the equipment would strengthen the capacity of project implementers to provide timely services to farmers within the project areas.
She said better access to extension services would support farmers to improve production and productivity in the dairy sector.
The C-SDTP is a 10-year programme running from 2024 to 2034 and implemented by the Tanzanian government in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
The project is designed to increase dairy production and productivity while improving farmers’ resilience to climate change through climate-smart technologies.
It also seeks to improve access to markets, encourage private-sector investment and reduce environmental impacts associated with dairy production.
With 140,000 livestock-keeping households targeted by the programme, the government’s emphasis on monitoring the newly acquired equipment puts greater focus on whether the investment translates into practical services and higher productivity at farm level.
The deployment of the vehicles, motorcycles and extension equipment is expected to make it easier for project officials to reach farmers, provide technical support and promote the adoption of improved dairy production practices across Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.