Tizeba: Tanzania has sufficient food covering 120pc of demand
The Minister for Agriculture Dr Charles Tizeba tables his ministry's budget for the 2018/19 financial year in parliament on Tuesday. Photo | Edwin Mjwahuzi
What you need to know:
Dr Tizeba who tabled his budget on Tuesday, said Tanzania needs 13.3 million tonnes of food including 8.5 tonnes of cereals. But he said the recent assessment indicates that there is a surplus of 2.6 million tonnes.
Dodoma. The Minister for Agriculture Dr Charles Tizeba has said that Tanzania has sufficient food supply covering 120 per cent of the demand for the current financial year.
Dr Tizeba who tabled his budget on Tuesday, said Tanzania needs 13.3 million tonnes of food including 8.5 tonnes of cereals. But he said the recent assessment indicates that there is a surplus of 2.6 million tonnes.
“With the current situation, the government has continued to issue export permits for farmers and traders to sell maize outside Tanzania," said Dr Tizeba.
Agriculture contributed 30.1 per cent of Tanzania's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2017 compared to 29.2 per cent in 2016, he said.
He also said the sector’s performance was improving but did not give the figures of the growth rate.
Dr Tizeba also explained that the sector provides 65 per cent of the raw materials in Tanzania and employs 65.5 per cent of Tanzanians.
