THE government is in talks with development partners to see to it that food fortification programme is scaled up across the country, involving as many Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) undertaking food processing as possible.
The ambitious move is termed as an important one as studies show that the food fortification exercise currently involving about seven giant food and oil processors is showing tremendous and impressive progress.
Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre (TFNC) nutrition expert, Mr Celestine Mgoba, told the 'Daily News' yesterday that fortification of food which was officially launched by President Jakaya Kikwete in May this year need to be scaled up countrywide.
"Talks are due for the partners supporting us to implement this programme to continue doing so to attain a wider coverage. The target is to reach SMEs to make this programme sustainable and comprehensive," he said.
In achieving that, he said, the plan is to procure and supply special machines called Dosifiers that are installed to facilitate some of the fortification process. He mentioned the partners aspiring to support the programme as the Department for International Department (DFID), Hellen Keller International and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN).
Already, according to Ms Mgoba the three have shown interest and commendable financial commitment in supporting the ongoing two-year pilot fortification programme which is expecting to spend more than 7bn/- upon completion next year. The food fortification programme is implemented as statistics indicate that Tanzania is severely affected with 42 per cent of its children under the age of five stunted as a result of malnutrition while six in ten children are anaemic.
Before the introduction of food fortification technology it was estimated that the country was losing about 150bn/- each year in decreased productivity caused by vitamins and mineral deficiencies. Food science experts say that lack of knowledge in that area has caused severe problems whereby the average diet in many families is monotonous, deficient and poor in essential micronutrients.
"The effects of the micronutrient deficiencies that occur in childhood are many and can manifest themselves even more seriously at adulthood of the affected," said Mr Mgoba. The Tanzania Food and Drugs Regulatory Authority (TFDA) says the food fortification programme will be strictly monitored to make sure that only quality fortified food is consumed.
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