THE government will next month embark on FY 2018/2019 comprehensive preliminary food production forecasts across the country, aimed at getting an exact state of production and availability of food in all districts.
She was responding to a question from Special Seats MP Joyce Sokombi (CHADEMA) who requested government’s response on the fate of Serengeti and Bunda residents currently facing possible famine following severe destruction of farms by elephants from the Serengeti National Park. In a question raised on her behalf by Serengeti MP Chacha Rioba Marwa, the Special Seats Lawmaker asked the government to prioritise the two districts when doling out food relief.
Responding, Dr Mwanjelwa said that the government had sent some 400 and 253.60 tons of maize to Serengeti and Bunda districts through its National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA), which was then sold at subsidized prices to area residents hit by droughts, plus those whose crops were affected by the marauding animals.
The minister for Natural Resource and Tourism, Dr Hamis Kigwangala has meanwhile given assurances that his ministry would also cooperate with colleagues at the Ministry of Agriculture to prevent further invasions of elephants within the two districts. “ … last month we dispatched our experts to make a thorough assessment in the two districts including putting measures in place to have a fence around the affected areas,’’ Dr Kigwangala said.
Another Special Seats MP, Agnes Marwa (CCM) demanded to know when the government would compensate residents whose crops were destroyed by the elephants.
However, the deputy minister in the ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Japhet Hasunga, said the government was currently reviewing the 2011 regulations that govern compensations for residents whose crops were destroyed, adding that such compensations would be paid before the end of this year.
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