TANZANIA – The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations has launched a new initiative aimed at improving food safety and increasing dairy production in Tanzania.
The project targets the significant gap between current dairy consumption and global nutritional recommendations, addressing the need to improve the production and processing of milk, a key animal product.
According to recent FAO reports, the average Tanzanian consumes only 62 liters of milk annually, far below the recommended 200 liters per person to meet nutritional needs.
In Tanzania, where approximately 3.97 billion liters of milk are produced each year, only about 5 percent is processed, leaving a vast potential for growth in the dairy sector.
The FAO’s initiative focuses on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the dairy value chain.
The project aims to provide these enterprises with the training, resources, and technical support necessary to enhance food safety standards, improve production quality, and expand distribution networks.
Charles Tulahi, the Assistant FAO Representative for Tanzania and Head of Programmes, highlighted the importance of this initiative in improving both food safety and dairy production quality.
“By improving production and accessibility, this project will help diversify diets, reduce malnutrition, and enhance overall public health,” Tulahi said.
The project will also address key challenges in the dairy sector, including inadequate infrastructure, limited market linkages, and low compliance with food safety standards.
The FAO initiative aims to empower local SMEs, enabling them to strengthen the dairy value chain from farm to market.
By boosting milk processing and expanding the range of dairy products available, the project seeks to enhance the availability of nutritious dairy products for Tanzanians.
Government officials, including Prof. Riziki Shemdoe, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, have expressed optimism about the project’s potential to transform Tanzania’s dairy sector.
Shemdoe noted that significant strides have already been made in improving the dairy sector, citing recent government efforts to increase budget allocations for livestock development and improve infrastructure for livestock transportation.
Through this collaborative effort involving government agencies, private sector stakeholders, and local partners, the FAO initiative is expected to strengthen Tanzania’s dairy industry, making it more competitive both domestically and internationally. T
he project’s long-term goals include enhancing food safety, boosting dairy production, and improving the livelihoods of those working in the dairy sector, from farmers to processors.
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