WFP Provides Five Cold Rooms To Facilitate Transportation Of Horticulture Produce Through SGR From Dodoma –Morogoro- Dar es Salaam

 

By Staff Reporter

THE World Food Programme (WFP) has rolled out support of at least five modern cold rooms to help facilitating a smooth and professional transportation of horticulture produce from Kilosa Morogoro ad Dodoma to Dar es Salaam markets before being airlifted to far abroad markets.

The vital development in the country’s agribusiness sector resulted from good working relations between the Government and international organizations.

With the development, the farmers who engages in the horticulture sector in Dodoma and Morogoro Regions are likely standing a better side of fetching lucrative profits from their farming works as their produce will now reach the markets destination while still fresh and at needed international standards.

Mr Ramadhan Sizya, the Senior Trader Officer in the Ministry of Trade unveiled the key development  recently in Dodoma Region in his remarks during the 2023 Tanzania Agriculture Stakeholders Learning even (TASLE).

The three-day event was organized by Agriculture Markets Development Trust (AMDT) and attracted more than 100 local and foreign participants.

Mr Sizya expressed that the Government and World Food Programme (WFP) have agreed to transport horticulture products through standard gauge railway (SGR).

“In order to have the produce transported professionally through the SGR, WFP provided five cold rooms for transportation of horticulture from Kilosa Morogoro and Dodoma to Dar es Salaam markets where others will be airlifted to abroad,”he said.

He added that the  main objective for the introduction of such service is to reduce the post-harvest losses in horticulture products.

“I a move to reduce post-harvest losses the government in collaboration with other partners has decided to introduce cold room services along agriculture productive areas,”

Statistics show that horticulture is a fast-growing sector in Tanzania. It is growing at a rate of 11 percent in a year compared to a 4pecent growth in the overall agriculture sector.

Because of the availability of both tropical and temperate climates along with different altitude and temperatures, Tanzania grows a very wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

 

Post havest losses are estimates between 40-50 percent in the horticulture sector. Various steps have been taken by the government and the private sector to tackle the challenge.

Nyasebwa Chimagu, the director of crop development in the Ministry of Agriculture said the Government is committed to improve productivity.

He said in terms of marketing of crops more efforts were done so as to improve the livelihood of farmers.

Dr Mary Shetto, AMDT board member thanked the Ministry of Agriculture for collaborating and participants to attend in the event.