Tanzania now becomes the first country in Africa to manufacture a nutrients dosing machine, a modern apparatus which fortifies grains with essential minerals during the milling process.
Apparently, Dar also plans to build a special factory for mass production of the apparatuses.
Produced by the Small Industries Development Organization (SIDO) of Arusha in conjunction with Dar-Es-salaam Institute of Technology (DIT), the Nutrients Dosing Machine project is the brainchild of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN).
The country’s Prime Minister, Kassim Majaliwa officially launched the machine in Arusha during the recently held, 9th Multi-Stakeholder Food and Nutrition Forum which took place at the Mount Meru Hotel Conference Hall.
“Tanzania has managed to cut down on malnutrition cases to just 30 percent in the last seven days and this achievement needs to be lauded,” stated the Premier, adding that even the number of stunted children is now dropping.
“However, there is still much to be done in order to totally eradicate cases of malnutrition in the country and this concept of fortification of grains and flours with nutrients using the dosing machines into grains will very much help the country make an even bigger stride in the mission,” Majaliwa added.
Previously during the climax of the 2023 torch race in Manyara Region, President Samia Suluhu Hassan challenged the Njombe and Iringa regional commissioners to tackle issues of malnutrition in their prefectures, where the situation was described to be bad.
The Head of Programs at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Dr Winfrida Mayilla revealed that they have managed to manufacture a total 50 nutrients dosing machines that have so far been distributed to five regions, including Mara, Iringa, Kagera, Manyara and Kilimanjaro.
“We are working in eleven countries in Africa and intend to introduce the nutrients dosing machine technology from Tanzania to Benin,” Dr Mayilla stated.
Earlier, the Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office, in charge of Policy, Parliament and Coordination, Jenista Mhagama stated that there are plans to build a factory which will specifically mass produce Nutrients Dosing Machines for countrywide distribution as well as exports.
On his part the Director of Policy and Coordination in the Prime Minister’s Office, Paul Sangawe said the locally built machines cost around 1.5 million/- quite cheap compared to the previously imported apparatus that used to cost up to 6 million/-.
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