By STAFF REPORTER
THE Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries has successfully managed to heighten milk production volume in the country from 2.2billion liters during 2020/21 to at least 3.6 billion liters in 2022/23.
The crucial development in the country’s dairy sector has been achieved through effective role so far played by the Tanzania Dairy Board (TDB), according to the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the parent ministry, Professor Daniel Mushi.
He unveiled the development in his remarks to open a special meeting tailored for the rolling out of copies of School Milk Feeding Program (SMFP) documents.
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Held over the weekend in Dodoma Capital City, the gathering went in tandem with official handing over of the special booths which will be used to roll out milk services in schools in the envisaged program.
In his speech, Prof Mushi informed that great efforts have so far been made by the government to ensure for increased production, processing and availability of livestock products in the country, including milk.
"These efforts, also incorporated fruitful working initiatives by the parent ministry and TDB to introduce best crossbreed dairy cows to the dairy farmers across the country" he informed.
And he added that through the constructive strategies, there was a purchase of a total of 3, 160 foundation stock cows, as well as introduction of improved bulls at the various state-owned livestock farms across the country, the development which played notable role in help heightening milk production.
"And through the period, much efforts were done to improve the country's livestock ecotypes," he added.
Apart from such an impressive development, the Don however unveiled that relevant research and date depicts that consumption of milk, and livestock products, including meat is still low across the country.
"For instances, milk consumption per individual in the country is currently at 62 liters annually, the far low volume in comparison to the level recommended by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which is 200 liters per individual in a year," he observed.
Speaking earlier, the Registar of the Tanzania Dairy Board (TDB), Professor George Msalya expressed that process for development of the school milk feeding program had involved a range of key stakeholders for getting proper experience and other necessary inputs.
Patrick Codjia, Head of Nutrition issues from United Nations International Children's Fund (UNICEF) said implementation of the envisaged program, school milk feeding program, was a vital move to ensure for effective utilisation of the country’s livestock -related products, being with an eye to improve the state of nutrition across the country.
If all goes well, school milk program (SMP) is expecting to cover the whole country tarting with the schools in the areas where milk is available and the presence of dairy processing.
Expecting to gobble up to 15bn/- in order to run for at least five years, the healthful program targets to benefit students within a total of 500 schools across the country, and for both purposes, improving their (students) health and cognitive levels.
The plan, among others is to commence with at least 100 schools in the period of 2023/2024 while other 100 schools will be added every year for the five consecutive years of the implementation and schools covered is expected to increase from 125 to 625 schools by 2027, with the targeted beneficiaries students are those aged between 4 to 19 years.
Under the timely program, the milk products to be distributed to the students will be the processed milk, either pasteurized, UHT, cultured milk or yoghurt depending on the availability and infrastructure of the area, and the quantity of milk supplied can are of 150mls to 200mls produced, whereby parents are sensitized about the benefits of the program and are encouraged to contribute money for the purchase of milk for their children to take during the break time.
To ensure the vital initiative see the light of the day, TDB in cooperation with the ministry of livestock and fisheries, diverse institutions from the private and public sector, and international organizations in the milk value chain have jointly bridged efforts and compiled the special Action Plan for Implementation of School Milk Program in Tanzania (2023-2028).
The main focus behind drafting of the Action Plan is to further enhance the implementation of a sustainable school milk program in Tanzania.
“Numerous records prove that in Tanzania school milk feeding programs started way back in early 2000s, and has involved different models (ways of implementation), and has reached a peak of 125 schools and 99,000 children in the recent past. But despite the efforts, the vital program been limited in terms of coverage, access of dairy products to school children, involvement of stakeholders,” according to Prof Msalya.
He detailed, among the seven specific objectives incorporates a move to enhance and strengthen participation of parents and other stakeholders in the program, to determine context specific modalities for implementation of the program, to identify mechanisms for coordination and collaboration of sustainably implementation of the school program.
To ensure the sustainability of the country-wide program, Dr Msalya informed that the parent ministry and the dairy board planned every financial year to construct 10 Milk Collection Centers (MCCs) and establish eight selling points to facilitate easy distribution of milk to schoolchildren.
The government has removed VAT on packaging materials, Cans, Cold rooms and Cold trucks to ensure safety, nutrition, convenience and affordability of milk.
Evidence from the Tanzania National School Malaria and Nutrition Survey (SMNS) of 2019 indicates that on average, children from public primary schools consumed limited diversified meals with animal source food being the least consumed food groups by majority of school children.
Among the stakeholders that involved in the development of the Action Plan for Implementation of of School Milk Program in Tanzania (2023-2028) include the President Office, (Regional Authority and Local Government), Prime Minister’s office, ministry of education, ministry of health, Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre (TFNC), Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), the Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB).
Others are Tanzania Milk Processors and their association (TAMPA), Tanga Fresh Limited, ASA Dairies Limited, Shambani Milk, Profate Dairy, Nronga Women Dairy, Land O’Lakes Venture 37, Heifer International (Heifer Tanzania), Solidaridad, Nutrition Connect, TETRA Pack and SNV to mention but a few.
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