This has been spoken by the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries in charge of Livestock, Prof. Elisante Ole Gabriel on his behalf by the Ministry's Director of Policy and Planning, Amosy Zephania during the opening of the 43rd Annual Scientific Conference of the Tanzania Society of Animal Production (TSAP) which is being held in Dodoma, Tanzania at St. Gaspar Hotel and Conference Centre, from Wednesday 2nd to Friday 4th December 2020. 

He said that the demand for protein from livestock and fish products is expected to increase significantly in the next 20 years due to population growth, urbanization, and increased people's income so it is high time to revolutionize the production and value chain of livestock and fish products to meet the needs of the industrial economy as well.

"Here in our country the production of livestock products does not grow to the required standards as consumer demand, this brings the need to make changes in our systems and increase efficiency and productivity of production using modern science and technology," said Prof. Elisante

The Secretary-General also explained that the Livestock and Fisheries production systems in the country are more dependent on using the local method where most of its users are pastoralists and small-scale fishermen and, in that sense, many existing systems are still of low quality and unsatisfactory.

He told them that there is a need to increase the availability of raw materials required in the livestock and fisheries processing industries and encourage pastoralists and producers to invest in appropriate technology and equipment that will increase productivity in the fields and enable more market access.

"I say all this with the sincere intention that the livestock and fisheries sector still has many challenges and you experts and stakeholders must see the need to address them and find solutions and other challenges that I will only address which are land degradation due to erosion and water demand. clean for livestock drinking in line with the requirements for good and adequate pasture " stressed Prof. Elisante.

Speaking before welcoming the official guest to open the conference, the Chairman of the Tanzania Society of Animal Production (TSAP), Dr. Daniel Komwihangilo said that their association sees it as the right time for the Government to enact legislation that will maintain the control and management of legitimate animal science practice and production work just like any other association such as Engineers, Lawyers, and many others.

Dr. Daniel Komwihangilo giving his speech during the opening of the conference

He explained that through the law, animal and production experts will have a Controller / Registrar who will ensure that the experts follow and obey the law and thus protect the interests of livestock, pastoralists, and other stakeholders.

He clarified that the main theme of the 43rd scientific conference is moving livestock and Fish value chains to higher levels for sustainable socio-economic gains but there are many other sub-themes that focus on specific areas of technological growth and its use in improving Livestock and aquaculture as well as its use in quality production, animal husbandry, and policy.

"It is an opportunity now for the relevant ministry responsible for Livestock Development in the country to take this step and we as TSAP are ready to provide any cooperation that will be required in these efforts," said Dr. Komwihangilo

Dr. Komwihangilo reported that TSAP has applied for an area of 7680 square meters in the city of Dodoma which they believe they will develop to help provide advisory services to pastoralists, students, and other stakeholders easily so they need 36,827,674 million shillings to buy it.

Coordinator of the private sector desk in the ministry of livestock and fisheries, Steven Michael contributing to the meeting

The annual TSAP conference provides an excellent opportunity to bring together outstanding scientists, policymakers, professionals, and students from interdisciplinary fields of Animal Science and Production, Veterinary, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Economics, and other stakeholders with interest in the livestock and fisheries industries in order to share the latest developments in the livestock industry, meet old friends and form new partnerships. Researchers, policymakers, extension experts, managers, and all players in the livestock and fisheries sub-sectors are invited to share experiences and explore the role of livestock and fish production in the process of industrialization in Tanzania amid pressures of the changing environment.

Dodoma Regional Administrative Secretary Maduka Kessy giving regional greetings in front of members of the party

Story Credits
Calvin Edward Gwabara, SUAMEDIA