Tanzania: Research on edible oil seeds to boost output, productivity

LACK of access, availability and affordability of improved edible oil seeds hinder increased production and productivity, especially of smallholder farmers who represent the largest portion of producers. Low production and productivity have resulted in low yields, poor quality and processing industries operating below capacities. Currently, Tanzania’s annual production of cooking oil is 200,000 tonnes through oil seeds against a demand of 570,000 tonnes. The deficit is imported from Malaysia, India, Singapore and Indonesia. To avert the situation, last week Vice President Dr Philip Mpango issued instructions to ministries and institutions at the closing of the 46th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) in Dar es Salaam to enhance research on oil seeds crops. “We have a huge shortage of edible oil and the ones that are available are sold at high prices to the point of hurting consumers,” he said. He said that oil is a very important product so farmers must get the best ...