|
Govt pledge support on organic agriculture
2006-05-11 09:52:58
By Pacifique Nkeshimana
The government has pledged to continue supporting stakeholders in organic agriculture in order to add value to the produce and help secure the local, regional and international markets.
Speaking during a one-day workshop for stakeholders in organic agriculture yesterday in Dar es Salaam, Peniel Lyimo, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Co-operatives pledged government’s support to all stakeholders.
The workshop was organised by Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement (TOAM), which is a Non-Governmental Organisation aimed at improving local agricultural produces to regional standards.
Stakeholders discussed the introduction of East Africa organic standards on locally produced agricultural commodities.
In the speech read on his behalf by his deputy, Mohamed Said Msuya, Lyimo said the co-operation between his ministry and organic agriculture stakeholders would improve standards of locally produced crops.
This, he noted was crucial in enabling local producers secure a stake on the global market.
’’The promotion of organic agriculture would be very significant in poverty reduction and in the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),’’ he said.
He added: ’’The fourth phase government is committed to supporting the stakeholders of the organic agriculture sector to make sure that our produce is of high quality as a prerequisite to securing the market in the East Africa region.’’
Organic agriculture is cultivation and production of food, and other produces without the use of chemical inputs such as industrial fertilisers or pesticides.
’’I understand very well that Tanzanian organic agricultural products are highly valued commodities, not only in the country, but also in European countries,’’ he said.
He added during the last agricultural season, the price of coffee produced in the organic agricultural system was US$1.3/- per Kg, while coffee produced in the non-organic system went for US$ 1.0/- per kilo.
He said: ’’During this era of globalisation, we have to add value to our agricultural produces… we are thus supposed to increase the quantity and quality of the products through environment friendly systems.’’
Leonard Mtama, the manager of TanCert, which was the first organisation to receive the National Organic Certification in the country said that Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and in the near future, Rwanda and Burundi would harmonise their bureau of standards on the organic agriculture products.
|
