MINISTER for Natural Resources and Tourism Angellah Kairuki has directed the Tanzania Forest Services (TFS) to intensify production and distribution of tree seedlings to reach more people in the country with ain to enhance protection of forests which are vulnerable to depletion.

Kairuki made the directives yesterday when visited Tree Seed Production Centre here.

“Our forests are facing a growing threat of depletion something which calls for an accelerated effort to produce more seeds and supply them in various areas for mass tree planting,” she remarked underscoring the need to allocate more funds to bolster support for the centre.

The Minister also underlined the importance for continued public education through various media platforms to heighten community awareness on the significance of high-quality tree seeds.

Prof. Dos Santos Silayo, TFS Conservation Commissioner has announced plans to bolster efficiency in service delivery by expanding its procurement capabilities which include hiring more competent professionals.

He made the declaration yesterday during the launch of preparations for the 2024/25 fiscal year procurement plan, coupled with specialized training.

The initiative, as outlined by Prof. Silayo, aims to align TFS operations with governmental directives, leveraging modern systems to streamline costs and improve service delivery. The training session involved Zone Commissioners and procurement officers from various regions nationwide.

Highlighting ongoing efforts to address staffing gaps in public procurement, Prof. Silayo stressed the significance of comprehensive training to ensure compliance with evolving legislative frameworks governing procurement and financial management.

According to him, the initiative aims to align TFS with government directives using modern systems to reduce government costs and enhance service delivery.

“In the current fiscal year’s budget, our procurement and supply allocation has increased from 300m/- to 600m/-,” Prof. Silayo noted, underlining the critical role of vigilant planning in optimizing the government’s expenditure, which primarily revolves around procurement activities.

He urged procurement officers to uphold regulatory standards across all organizational levels. 

Fridolin Matembo, Assistant Commissioner of Procurement at TFS, underscored that the training initiative aims to enhance efficiency and deepen understanding of new government procurement systems, hence help save unnecessary government expenditure.

These systems, including the National e-Procurement System (NeST), Government Payment System (MUSE), and others, have significantly curtailed unnecessary expenditures while enhancing transparency in public procurement processes.

“Upon mastering these systems, our experts will adeptly formulate the annual procurement plan, ensuring seamless execution for the upcoming fiscal year in accordance with legal and procedural requirements,” Matembo affirmed.

He also expressed gratitude for government initiatives such as the establishment of TFS commissioner offices across all regions, construction of emergency housing for anti-poaching units, and fortified security measures to safeguard natural reserves.