Africa-Press – Tanzania. DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) has been urged to keep on funding farmers groups in fattening cattle projects to boost their incomes and contribute to economic growth.
The plea was made recently by the National Ranch Company (NARCO- Kongwa) Manager Mr Elisa Binamungu when the COSTECH and media team visited the ranch in Dodoma. “Farmers’ groups engaging in cattle fattening have been among the major suppliers of cattle for beef production at Kongwa beef factory,” said Mr Binamungu adding there were many empowered groups that will help even small farmers to stop selling cattle at a loss.
He said beef production is the key to reducing poverty, achieving food security and nutrition, promoting exports, economic growth, and industrialisation.
He said usually cattle fattening takes three months to gain the needed weight because they increase between 500-1000 grammes per day.
“Normally, fattened cattle should be between two and a half years old so that they can gain the required weight. If you take an older one the cattle will not gain much weight instead it will be fat,” he stressed.
He said the presence of farmers’ groups engaging in cattle fattening is a huge opportunity for them to get more fattened cattle.
“To be able to satisfy our customers, we must have a product the best product. The presence of farmers groups has enabled us to continue to produce the Kongwa meat brand. “I request COSTECH to continue supporting farmers’ groups to keep on supplying our factory with fattened cattle and meet the customer’s demand,” he said.
However, he said that fattened cattle undergo proper preparation before being slaughtered, unlike non-fattened cattle which were transported long distances and slaughtered immediately after arrival thus making the meat tasteless.
Therefore, it is appropriate to first fatten the cattle to increase the quality, value and weight, thus assuring farmers more revenues.
He said that NARCO has a target of selling 50,000 tonnes of meat per year but due to limited capacity, they cooperate without small-scale Outgrowers to supply the needed products. Mr Binamungu said that on average each fattened cattle has between 50-65 per cent beef.
The Muungano Mtanana Group Chairman, Mr Lakson Lechipya said the project provided them high profit because after fattening the weight increased from 180 kg to 300kg in 90 days.
He requested the government to build them a good permanent shed for fattening as well as connect them with financial institutions so that they could increase capital and attract more farmers to form groups.
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