TALIRI told to boost livestock productivity

MPWAPWA: THE government has directed the Tanzania Livestock Research Institute (TALIRI) to accelerate research into animal health, pasture development and livestock breeds to improve productivity and strengthen the sector’s contribution to the national economy.

Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Ambassador Dr Bashiru Ally, issued the directive on Tuesday during a visit to TALIRI’s Central Zone Centre in Mpwapwa District, where he inspected its operations and assessed challenges facing the institution.

“Research into animal health, pasture and livestock breeds must be strengthened to improve livestock productivity,” Dr Kakurwa said, directing the centre to become a hub for artificial insemination and embryo transfer technologies.

He also instructed TALIRI to prepare budget estimates for a modern laboratory to support the two technologies, saying the investment will help translate research findings into practical improvements in livestock breeding and production.

In a related directive, the minister banned the commercial sale of pasture seeds subsidised by the government, insisting that they must directly benefit livestock keepers.

He instructed the ministry’s Permanent Secretary to issue a circular outlining new guidelines for the sale and distribution of the seeds to ensure that the intended beneficiaries receive the subsidy.

Mpwapwa District Commissioner Dr Sophia Mfaume Kizigo called for grassroots awareness campaigns to encourage livestock keepers to adopt pasture farming, saying the practice can improve animal feed availability and ease land-use conflicts between farmers and pastoralists.

“The campaign to promote pasture farming needs to reach livestock keepers at the grassroots to build their understanding of the practice,” she said.

Dr Kizigo said wider adoption of pasture farming will improve feed availability for livestock while reducing competition for land between farmers and pastoralists.

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Meanwhile, Deputy Permanent Secretary responsible for the livestock sector, Dr Fabian Madele, speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, pledged that the ministry will work with experts to implement the minister’s directives and advance reforms in line with Tanzania’s Development Vision 2050.

He said collaboration between the ministry and technical experts will be crucial in translating the proposed measures into practical improvements in the livestock sector.

Earlier, TALIRI researcher Dr Kabuni Kabuni told the minister that the institute needed a modern laboratory in collaboration with the National Artificial Insemination Centre (NAIC) to strengthen artificial insemination and embryo transfer services.

He said the facility will enable research findings to be applied more effectively in livestock production, particularly in improving livestock breeds and increasing productivity.

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