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Govt to import 300,000 tonnes of cereals soon
2008-02-06 09:20:47
By Bilham Kimati, Dodoma
Importantation of more than 300,000 tons of grain will be urgently undertaken to offset looming food shortage in some districts, especially in the Southern part of the country, the government announced yesterday.
The Minister of State in the Prime Minister`s Office, Dr. Batilda Burian, told reporters that at least 21 districts had been earmarked for immediate supply of food relief.
She said some tariffs had been waived to allow in the imports which would beef up supplies from the national food reserve.
``Findings of an in-depth assessment conducted in August and September last year indicated that 21 districts will experience food shortage, each with different magnitude,`` said Burian.
``Under the Prime Minister`s Office, we have a special task force known as the Tanzania Disaster Relief Committee, TANDREC, which responds rapidly in coordination with all levels of administration to address the unfolding situation,`` she said.
Following a close assessment of the situation in the 21 districts, said the minister, the government had supplied 539 tons of food, especially maize, to Mbulu District in Manyara Region, where more than 22,000 people from 28 villages needed food handouts.
The minister said Iramba District had received 62 tons of millet, while Kilwa District received 57 tons of maize, Liwale District got 145 tons of maize, Nachingwea (50 tons), Mufindi and Ludewa districts in Iringa Region received three tons and 2.1 tons of maize respectively in addition to 300,000/- given to 17 victims in Ludewa District who lost their houses in an inferno.
M
eanwhile, the Prime Minister’s Office (Disaster Management Unit) plans to intervene following reports of escalating prices of major foodstuffs in major towns.
Responding to reports that low income earners in places like Dar es Salaam were finding it difficult to afford a kilogram of maize flour currently selling at 900/- and beans selling at 1,500/- a kilo, Burian pledged immediate deployment of officials to assess the situation.
``They will talk to transporters and members of the business community to find out reasons for the price hikes,`` she said.
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