FORMER Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda has appealed to Tanzanians to value, preserve and advance indigenous seeds and foods, saying they can help reduce nutrition and health related challenges.

He argued that while there are many stakeholders, including non-governmental organizations working on ecological agriculture, their efforts are not pooled together as they do not know one another, where they operate and what they do.

Pinda made the appeal during dissemination of nutritional study findings and traditional gala dinner event held in Dodoma on Tuesday evening, organized by the Islands of Peace (IDP), an NGO specialized in the support for local development.

The event with the theme ‘Contributions of Local Seeds in Improving Nutrition for a Resilient Food System’ brought together participants from the government, private sector, players in organic farming among others.

He said indigenous seeds and foods can help reverse nutritional challenges facing the country, including stunted growth among children under the age of five.

“Leaders have a big role to play in ensuring promotion of organic farming, improved food production and food security in the country” he said, adding that local government authorities should ensure this is achieved.

According to the former Premier, most government policies on such matters are not implemented at the grassroots level as leaders there who are close to people do not engage seriously in such matters.

Earlier, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Stephen Nindi noted that the government is committed to continued cooperation with organic farming stakeholders in steering activities further.

He said the ministry has set a side budget to help promote organic farming and will soon start providing subsidies to companies that produce organic farming inputs.

“Agriculture comes third in contribution to GDP after mining and tourism; thus the government is committed to improve it further and such efforts are important in the government agenda” said Nindi.

IDP Country Director Ayesiga Buberwa said the Belgian non-governmental organisation, organized the gala to remind stakeholders on ecological farming that can enhance food systems.

She further emphasized the significance of continuous learning in addressing food security concerns and improving health.

“Traditional foods are the immediate solution to several health problems in our country and they also help in promoting Tanzanian culture” she said.

Buberwa called on agricultural research institutions to collaborate in promoting food security while expressing her wish for research institutions to join forces in advancing a sustainable food system considering abundant resources available.