Tanzania Milk Processors Association elects new leadership

TANZANIA – Tanzania Milk Processors Association (TAMPA), a trade organisation representing dairy processors in Tanzania, has elected a new leadership which vowed to revitalise the country’s dairy industry.

During a recent meeting in Morogoro, where the National Milk Week celebrations were taking place, TAMPA members elected Yahya Watuta as the new chairperson.

Watuta emphasised the importance of training programs on milk quality control, stating that empowering dairy processors with better knowledge and skills would lead to increased profitability and industry growth.

Watuta assured members that the new leadership would prioritise unity and collaboration among dairy stakeholders to address industry challenges and improve productivity.

“I will work to ensure this sector is elevated and contributes more to the national economy and even beyond the region,” he stated.

Additionally, the association also appointed Jackline Ngassa as vice-chairperson and Florent Nguma as secretary.

However, in line with TAMPA’s constitution, the position of treasurer remains vacant, as members agreed that a candidate should fill the role with Certified Public Accountant (CPA) credentials.

The newly elected leadership stated that the dairy sector, currently valued at 3.2 trillion Tanzanian shillings, plays a crucial role in supporting livelihoods, engaging approximately 4 million households across the dairy value chain.

Speaking at the launch of Milk Week, Tanzania Dairy Board (TDB) registrar Prof. George Msalya highlighted the importance of continued investment and policy reforms to sustain this progress.

He encouraged further efforts to strengthen the sector’s role in poverty alleviation and economic development.

With the new leadership in place, TAMPA aims to drive innovation, improve milk processing standards, and ensure that Tanzania’s dairy industry remains competitive in both local and regional markets.

The dairy industry in Tanzania has experienced notable growth, with annual milk production reaching 4.01 billion litres, thereby increasing its contribution to the national economy to 2%.

Regions such as Iringa, Njombe, and Mbeya have shown higher milk yields due to their cooler climates, with some farms producing up to 20 litres per day.

However, Tanzania’s annual per capita milk consumption remains low at 67.5 litres, far below the recommended 200 litres.

To address this gap, the government and dairy stakeholders are promoting policies that encourage investment in modern dairy farming techniques, including the use of crossbred cows, which can yield 10 to 15 liters of milk per day, compared to the lower output of indigenous breeds.

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