The growth of positive changes in the Forestry Sector in the country has led the country of Tanzania to take steps that goes hand in hand with providing 3 million jobs, producing 2,630 professionals who manage forests inside and outside the country, thus enabling the allocation of more than 45 million hectares of forest reserves and the establishment 580,000 hectares of commercial forest plantations and caused the Sector to be proud in the 50th Anniversary of Professional Forestry Training in the country since its establishment in 1973.
Speaking during the opening of the celebration, the Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Technology who is also a Member of Parliament for the Mafia Hon. Omary Kipanga October 1, 2024 at the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) has noted that Forests in the country have many benefits where they occupy 55 percent of the land on the Tanzania Mainland and make the forests alone in the country contribute more than four percent to the national income (GDP ), access to clean water, shelter and grazing for wild animals, soil conservation, biodiversity welfare, climate change and eco-tourism development.
In addition, he added that the importance of forests in the country can be seen in the development of the nation, industrial development in increasing employment and commercial opportunities in the country, although only 20 percent is used in forest products, so there is a need to look at how the remaining percentages can be used to bring productivity by increasing the chain of value and employment in their areas while affecting people with special needs and women.
Hon. Kipanga has congratulated SUA University for continuing to increase the value of forest products by bringing simple technology to rural areas for those with skills and capital as determined by research conducted by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in 2021 which showed an increase in raw value to be shillings 4.65 trillion has asked the Ministry of Communications and Tourism, Natural Resources and Environment and other forestry stakeholders to strengthen cooperation with SUA through College of Forestry, Wildlife and Tourism to increase efficiency and productivity in the sector in order to achieve major goals for the next 50 years.
And the Vice Chancellor of Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) Prof. Raphael Chibunda has thanked the Deputy Minister of Science and Technology for appreciating the SUA Institute for allocating time and participating in the opening of the historic exhibition, so all people have been asked to participate fully in learning and understanding about forests as SUA has become a leader in the region of SADEC countries and Africa East, so through that week they have a reason to enjoy and evaluate themselves to continue to be a leading University. And the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Academic, Research and Professional Counseling Prof. Maulid Mwatawala has said that in 50 years the University has had various degrees in forestry since the establishment of the profession in the college and it did not stop at teaching only. 200 hectares as well as planting another training forest Ifinga Madaba Songea which is expected to be 10 thousand hectares.
