Study to determine cause of farmer pastoralist conflicts

ROSE ATHUMANI

Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Dr Charles Tizeba

THE government is studying conflicts between farmers and pastoralists to determine whether they emanate from greater pressure on grazing land due to increased livestock population or is a product of poor land planning.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries has also held discussions with pension funds to invest in fish processing industries and construction of cold rooms for fish storage.

Speaking during the ‘Tunatekeleza’ programme aired by Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC), the Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Dr Charles Tizeba, said although the issue of land conflict was cross cutting, his ministry wants to know the root cause of the conflict, whether is due to small grazing land with large livestock population or it is just poor planning.

He, however, cautioned those engaging in conflicts that they were breaking the law by destroying property and sometimes killing people, urging security organs to ensure that perpetrators face the wrath of the law.

“People need to understand that this country is governed by laws and no one is above the law. It is a criminal offence to destroy property and life and those perpetrating this must be held responsible and face the laws of the country,” Dr Tizeba explained.

The minister faulted some local administrative officials for fueling land conflicts by accepting bribes from some of the perpetrators, forcing the parties that do not have money to bribe to take the law in their own hands.

On fishing, Dr Tizeba said the government was encouraging fish farming to reduce pressure on lakes, which are currently facing scarcity of fish, especially in Lake Victoria, due to illegal fishing methods.

“Fishing communities know the repercussions of Illegal fishing but they still do it. But greed is at the centre of these illegal fishing methods, which are destroying breeding areas for fish ... all these they know but fish farming would provide farmers with an alternative source of income,” he explained.

On deep sea fishing, Dr Tizeba said Tanzanians have not benefited much with deep sea fishing as there are no are local fishing boats that venture into deep sea for fishing except for foreigners. Currently, 104 foreign fishing boats are fishing in the deep sea.

The minister said he had suspended issuing of licences for deep sea fishing until the current ones expire, noting that the regulations governing deep sea fishing were not beneficial -prompting the need to change them.

“We will start issuing the licences with new regulations that will require we do it in partnership or increase charges so that we as a nation can benefit. We will also look for ways for locals to get employment,” he explained.

Following President John Magufuli’s advice to pension funds to invest in other areas, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries has been encouraging investments in fish processing factories and cold rooms.

He added that the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces, Naval Command, was in advanced talks with their counterparts in China to engage in grand-scale commercial fishing