Editorial
Analysis
Govt needs to do more in cotton
sector
Recently, Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Charles Keenja announced
the expected increase in cotton production in the country by 80 per cent - an
announcement that has been soothing to most people involved in cotton industry,
together with the oil and textile industries.
The Minister furthermore gave us the cause for the increase, which is the
introduction of new seeds. We must congratulate the government for that as in
the coming season the country is expected to have 250,000 tonnes in 2004/05 from
137,899 tonnes in 2003/04 season.
Although cotton is mostly consumed locally through textile and oil industries,
only 20 per cent is consumed by textile industries while cottonseeds contribute
more than 50 per cent to all produced edible oils. Why only 20 per cent into the
textile industries while the country has about nine industries, which can help
consume more cotton locally?
Textile industries should increase the intake of cotton at good prices as this
will help the farmers increase their production and curb the increasing
production costs. The cotton price, according to the Minister Keenja, will go up
to Tsh. 280 per kilo compared to Tsh. 180 per kilo in 2002/03.
It is a good move by the government but will the price help improve farmers’
lives? It is a known fact that huge amount in taxes are deducted from the
farmers’ revenue. As a result, the farmers produce with little or no profit at
all.
About 40 per cent of Tanzanian population of 34.5 million depends on cotton
cultivation; some Members of Parliament also have raised concern about the
production costs shooting while the prices go down due to the overproduction
that is expected this season.
Despite the effort the government is making to help cotton farmers, more is
needed to relieve farmers by withdrawing taxes and improving cotton production
through modern equipment and low-cost fertilisers.
Tackling counterfeits: Let’s
learn from Kenya
It is now a considerably long period of time since Tanzania started experiencing
the influx of imported sub-standard goods. We feel the authorities have not
taken appropriate steps to arrest the situation.
As a result, the situation is now threatening the local industries. Both the
Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) and the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) are
tossing balls in each other’s courts without providing a proper solution.
Last week, neighbouring Kenya showed the way. They have decided to take the war
against the influx of counterfeit goods in their country to the doorstep of the
Chinese Embassy in Nairobi.
They have decided to place these counterfeits at the top of the agenda during
the visit of the Chinese Deputy Trade Minister to Nairobi next month.
Kenya’s Trade Minister was quoted by a weekly regional paper as saying that
although it was not the policy of the Chinese government to support counterfeit
trade, it had not set up adequate measures to curb the export of counterfeits to
the Kenyan market.
Tanzania is facing the same problem and now the problem has taken a new turn as
a locally produced fake aerosol, X-pel was found being sold by unscrupulous
businessman purporting to be the genuine one produced by Manor Day Chemicals.
If the trend goes unchecked, the genuine aerosols will have their market
threatened by the counterfeit, which may force the genuine factories to close
down. It is time now we use the approach used by Kenya.
Additionally, the Parliament should enact a law, which will enable TBS, and
other bodies to inspect imported as well as local products, including those on
shelves, lest there are doubts about their authenticity.
The government should, in the case of imported counterfeits, take immediate
action, including seeking clarification from envoys of the exporting countries
as to why they have failed to curb the exportation to Tanzania of such products.
Analysis
Flamingo deaths at Lake
Manyara spell trouble
By Timothy Kitundu
To any committed environmentalist, the deaths of animals, insects, birds and
even plants in a certain location is a cause for alarm. This is not because of
fear of impending hunger but because the balance of nature may be disturbed.
Biologists believe in the balance of nature; that in a certain habitat, be it a
lake, pond, a forest, the bio-diversity follows a particular pattern of life. In
a pond, for example, all living organisms increase in number through
reproduction and are reduced through the means of nature itself.
This applies, according to biologists in all the places mentioned above. People
die and others are born. This is the case with all other habitats. The earth is
never choked of its population, ponds are never choked by the population of
living organisms; they are reduced and increased by nature itself – this is the
balance of nature.
There are disturbing reports that over 10,000 pink flamingoes in Lake Manyara
National Park in the Arusha region have died of a mysterious disease since June
this year. This is a threat which is two-fold; the birds may be dying of
poisoning, which might spread to other living organisms.
The other possibility is a pandemic, which threatens to wipe out the population
of these beautiful birds that are an attraction to over 100,000 tourists. But
the good news from Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) is that the ‘disease’ could
be just a ‘passing cloud’ and that there is no imminent threat of the birds’
extinction.
While the birds have a life expectancy of over 50 years and an annual breeding
of over 250,000, and a few deaths could not make a difference, this should not
stop environmentalists from expressing their concerns since the role played by
these birds is beneficial socially, economically and environmentally.
According to sources, flamingoes breed every two years at Lake Natron in
Tanzania, and out of 500,000 hatchlings, more than 300,000 survive. These
statistics still support the theory that there is no threat of the birds’
extinction; however, it would be better to establish the problem and solve it.
In their efforts to curb the problem, ornithologists from the Veterinary
Investigation Centre (VIC) and Tanzania Pesticide Research Institute (TPRI)
hypothesise that the main cause for the deaths might be closely linked to
agricultural pollution. No pathogenic bacteria were isolated in the samples of
bird’s organs and water analysed for bacteria infections.
Some farming activities carried out around the national park; where there is
extensive use of a variety of pesticides can be possibly linked to the distress
facing the flamingoes. Lake Manyara, according to TPRI, apparently absorbs
run-off water from some of the farms which might still be using DDT among other
pesticides.
TPRI already have tissues, fish and water samples to test for chemical residues
and the results indicated trace of Fenvelerate, a derivative of summithion
commonly used for cotton pesticides. Increasing human activities in the rift
valley and pollution from agro-chemicals and heavy metals may further add to the
problem.
Also, scientists have observed that lack of such incidents of birds’ deaths in
the soda lakes of East Africa in the past indicate that the mortalities are
relatively a new phenomenon.
Further information from Manyara National Park substantiates that the ‘passing
cloud’ disease might be true, although it is also linked to poisoning. However,
there have been no deaths of fish that live in the lakes as they feed on
Spirulina, a green algae.
Having established the problem and a warning sounded, I had expected that more
institutions would have joined the wagon. It is rather discouraging to learn
that the whole problem has been left to a few institutions engaged in research -
how about the WWF, and other powerful institutions?
As a remedy, I think the government, particularly the Ministry of Agriculture
and Food Security, should try to trace and establish the sources of the runoff
water, which may be the main cause of pollution and ultimately the mortality of
the birds. Stern measures should be taken to halt human activities as is the
case with forest reserves.
I am sure it within the capacity of the government to ensure that all factories,
farms and other human activities, which pose a threat to Lake Manyara and the
pink (lesser) flamingoes, are halted.
I also commend the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI) for their
concerted efforts following the mishap, as they have sent samples of tissues
from dead birds to Leibniz Institute of Fresh Water Ecology and Inland
Fisheries, in Berlin, Germany, for investigations to determine the deaths of the
birds.
But this should teach us a lesson: Despite having higher learning and research
institutes in the country we are unable to diagnose such a problem. Is it
because we do not have the equipment or the manpower to carry out such tests?
Apparently, it will take a longer time to get the results from Germany as
opposed to carrying such tests here in Tanzania and the longer the time the more
complex the problem might develop into.
The Manyara flamingoes are believed to be facing a similar fate as those living
in Lake Nakuru and Lake Bogira in Western Kenya that died in 2001. A total of
40,000 and 20,000 birds died in 1993 and 1995, respectively, in three months’
time with no known cause.
Although Kenyan scientists are still thinking that the cause of the bird’s
deaths probably is heavy metal pollution and a viral infection, they are yet to
establish the real cause. This is a challenge to the two countries, who share
common boundaries as well as breeding areas for wildlife.
It would have been a good idea for Tanzanian and Kenyan scientists to come
together and try to tackle this problem jointly. Flamingoes are among our most
valued tourist attractions and I don’t think someone from outside can provide a
prompt solution to the threat hovering over the three million bird population.
Log saga: Meghji should resign
Rufiji logs destined for export have been in national headlines for the past two
weeks. It’s a scandal involving the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism,
under the Iron Lady Minister, Zakia Meghji.
The scandal has resulted in work suspension of four senior officers, log
shipment stoppage and the government’s new directive to confiscate vehicle
carrying the logs.
All this came after media reportage, which unearthed the massive deforestation
of natural forest.
But in all this drama, no thought has been given to log exporters. When the
minister abruptly enforced the ban, she was being myopic for who will compensate
the traders?
Coming back to the ban, to the best of my knowledge the ban was supposed to be
imposed Wednesday — which means it’s too late to save the already felled trees.
The blame for this destruction squarely lies at the Minister’s door. She should
have been aware of what goes on in the forests across the nation.
It is a typical government gimmick to make scapegoats out of junior staff while
the seniors go fancy-free; the Ministers and other top brass (vigogo) tuck their
feet under the mwenzetu’s blanket.
Ruvuma Region was the first to impose the log ban. Its Regional Commissioner was
quoted saying the traders have dubious letters.
But this wanton log chopping issue has been going on for so long that, I
believe, the Minister had received the information. And, if she did not, then
the whole Ministry needs to be overhauled and the Minister should be the first
to quit.
Meghji said in Dar es Salaam last Friday that her Ministry had started a special
operation to enforce the logs export ban that would involve confiscation of
vehicles and other measures. On top of that game rangers, she said, would be
given authority to search any area for hidden logs.
Commenting on the apparent delay in implementing Act No. 14 of 2002, the
Minister said that the Forestry Policy has undergone several changes, which
required involvement of all stakeholders.
She further said the new law needed ample time for forestry stakeholders to
analyse it and gather enough experience.
But I say all these imperative directives should have come yesterday; today is
very late, Madam Minister. The natural forest growth in southern Tanzania would
take another 100 or more years to produce the same species, because the Ministry
was at rest while stakeholders need ample time.
This is lame excuse as the Ruvuma RC Major General (rtd) Said Kalembo has said
timber harvesting has been going on for quite sometime without any laid down
procedure against wiping out forests.
A lot is left to be desired as world prices for Blackwood in Europe, especially
Germany, and Chinese market fetch as much as US$18,000 (Tsh. 18 million) per
cubic meter while the government gets a paltry Tsh. 70,000 (US$ 70).
They say money is not everything but forest is. At the current pace of illegal
felling of natural resources in southern Tanzania it is feared that the miombo
and mahogany wood — the darling ones — that have taken 100 years to mature would
be decimated in 20 years.
Let’s be serious and let the Minister shoulder the blame.
| Business News | Forex Week | Money Market | Corporate Report |
| Business Opinion | Bank Interest Rates | Capital Market Focus |