No food shortage in Tanzania: PM

Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said on Monday the east African country was not facing any food shortage and urged Tanzanians to dismiss rumours of famine.

"The government is the only authority to release reports on food shortage. Reports that Tanzania is facing food shortage are completely false," said the prime minister in the political capital Dodoma.

Majaliwa made the statement following reports in local media and religious organizations claiming that Tanzania is facing food shortage.

"Last year the country had food surplus to the tune of three million tonnes, a situation that made Members of Parliament and traders to request the government to give permits for selling the surplus food abroad," said Majaliwa.

He said the government issued the permits and 1.5 million tonnes were exported abroad and the remaining 1.5 million tonnes were reserved for use in the country.

Charles Tizeba, the Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, told a news conference in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam that preliminary food production conducted in July 2016 showed that the country had 123 per cent food surplus.

Tizeba said 11 regions out of 26 regions had enough food reserves, 12 regions had relatively enough food and only two regions were facing pockets of food shortage. Endit