What Tanzania and Sweden are doing in developing palm trees
What you need to know:
Under Tropical Forest Alliance 2020 Africa Palm Oil Initiative (TFA2020), the country is collaborating with Swedish International Development Agency to improve productivity of palm oil, the deputy minister said.
Dar es Salaam. Regarding development of palm trees to produce enough palm oil seeds in the country, the government has a plan to revamp the crop through implementing an international programme known as the Tropical Forest Alliance 2020 Africa Palm Oil Initiative (TFA2020).
Answering questions from legislators during the budget meeting on Thursday, deputy minister for Agriculture, Dr Mary Mwanjelwa, said under TFA2020, the country is collaborating with Swedish International Development Agency to improve productivity of palm oil, the deputy minister said.
She was answering a question from the legislator for Ilala (CCM), Mr Mussa Zungu, who wanted to know when the country will commit to countrywide planting of 30 million palm trees for mass production of palm oil.
“Since Malaysian palm trees were originated in Tanzania, I don’t know why the government is failing to mobilise farmers to plant at least 30 million palm trees countrywide,” said Mr Zungu.
Tanzania has 27 agricultural research institutes specialising in production of quality seeds and improvement of extension services and boosting farm productivity.
Some of the well-established institutes include Naliendele in Mtwara Region, Ukiriguku in Mwanza Region, Ilonga in Kilosa District, Uyole in Mbeya Region, Katrin in Ifakara, Selian in Mvumero, Tumbi in Kibaha, Mikocheni Agricultural Research Institutes in Dar es Salaam and Tanzania Livestock Research Organisation.
