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The government has been challenged to push for the expansion of the meat industry countrywide in an effort to raise the contribution of the livestock sector to the development of the national economy.
The challenge was raised by Members of Parliament in the just-ended session in Dodoma while debating the non-delivering sector performance at the time when Tanzania held the third slot in livestock endowment on the African continent.
Livestock and Fisheries Minister, Luhaga Mpina had just, during Question & Answer Time, revealed plans for expanding livestock markets revolving on the wide range beef and dairy products through value addition chain.
Monduli Member of Parliament, Julius Kalanga (CCM) wanted to know what the government had in stock for improving the performance of the livestock sector in Tanzania, which is aspiring to become a middle-income country by 2025.
The Lawmaker had expressed it as “disheartening to see Tanzania failing to make an effective use of opportunities the livestock sector has on offer.” According to available data, Tanzania is endowed with 25.8 million head of cattle, 16.7 million goats, 8.7 million sheep, and 37 million indigenous chickens.
He lamented the limited number of meat processing plants in Tanzania pushed most livestock keepers and cattle dealers to go in for external market outlets regardless of the government ban.
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