DR. BILAL KATIKA MKUTANO WA UMOJA WA MATAIFA, ISTANBUL

Makamu wa Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, Dkt. Mohamed Gharib Bilal, akiteta jambo na Waziri wa Ardhi na Maendeleo ya Makazi, Dkt. Anna Tibaijuka, wakati wakiwa ndani ya Ukumbi wa Mkutano wa Umoja wa Mataifa kuhusu Maendeleo ya Nchi Masikini, unaoendelea jijini Istanbul, Uturuki. Mkutano huo unatarajia kumalizika Mei 13 mwaka huu.

Makamu wa Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, Dkt Mohamed Gharib Bilal, akisalimiana na Mkurugenzi wa Shirika la Chakula Duniani (FAO), Jacques Diouf, wakati walipokutana kwa ajili ya kufanya mazungumzo kwenye Ukumbi wa Mkutano jijini Istanbul leo. Makamu wa Rais Dkt Bilal, amemuwakilisha Rais wa Jakaya kikwete katika Mkutano wa Umoja wa mataifa kuhusu Maendeleo ya nchi masikini, unaoendelea jijini Istabunbul.

Makamu wa Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, Dkt Mohamed Gharib Bilal, akizungumza na Mkurugenzi wa Shirika la Chakula Duniani (FAO), Jacques Diouf, wakati walipokutana kwa ajili ya kufanya mazungumzo kwenye Ukumbi wa Mkutano jijini Istanbul leo. Makamu wa Rais Dkt Bilal, amemuwakilisha Rais wa Jakaya kikwete katika Mkutano wa Umoja wa mataifa kuhusu Maendeleo ya nchi masikini, unaoendelea jijini Istabunbul. Picha na Ofisi ya Makamu wa Rais.

From ASSAH MWAMBENE in Istanbul

The Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, Dr. Jacques Diof has praised the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor in Tanzania saying the project would have huge impact in the economies of the country.

The outgoing FAO Director General made the comment when he paid a courtesy call on the Tanzania’s Vice President, Dr Mohamed Gharib Bilal in Istanbul, Turkey yesterday.

Dr Diof said the FAO looks at the project as one of the role models aimed at in addressing the challenges of food security, saying lack of food impacts heavily on the economies of most of the African Countries.

“I had discussions with the Commissioner for Development Co-operation of the European Union and talked partly about your impressive plans to address challenges in the agricultural sector” Dr. Diof noted.

On his part, the Vice-President said Tanzania attaches a lot of importance to the development of the agricultural sector, saying Kilimo Kwanza provide a road map for addressing challenges in the agricultural sector.

He thanked the FAO Director General for the support rendered by his organization to Tanzania’s agricultural reforms projects, noting Tanzania would always bank on the FAO for their advice and support.

The Vice-President also noted that Tanzania has lots of potential to produce more but was lacking appropriate technology and modern tillage implements to harness the potential.

He said however, the biggest challenge in the agriculture is not only food security but rather ensuring that the increased food production does not impact adversely on the environment.

The Vice-President is representing President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete in the United Nations Summit on Least Developing Countries being held at the Turkish capital, Istanbul.