15/08/2012 (AllAfrica.com) - Despite an increase in the production of oilseeds, the country still imports 60 per cent of cooking oil, the parliament was told.

The Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mr Christopher Chiza, said this while responding to a basic question by lawmaker Josephine Genzabuke (Special Seats - CCM) who wanted to know the government's plans to distribute oilseeds in Kigoma Region and strategy to empower small scale entrepreneurs to establish oilseed industries.

Mr Chiza said the government in collaboration with district councils, NGOs and private companies, is continuing with research, production, and processing of sun flower, sesame, ground nuts, cotton seeds, Palm seeds, and Soya beans.

He said the production of sunflower increased from 348,877 tonnes in 2009/10 to 786,902 tonnes in 2010/11.

In Kigoma Region, Mr Chiza said more than 500 hectares under sunflower are found in Kasulu, Kibondo and Kakonko districts.

The region produces a total of 980 tonnes of sunflower, out of which 750 tonnes are produced in Kasulu District alone. He explained that the government continues to increase production of oilseeds in different regions including Singida, Tabora, Shinyanga, Iringa, Rukwa, Katavi and Kigoma.

Citing an example, Mr Chiza said in 2011/12 the Agriculture Seed Agency (ASA) started distributing sunflower seeds to farmers in Kigoma Region. "ASA has also started preparing Agents who will help distributing Sunflower seeds to farmers," he explained.

He said the exercise to improve and increase production of oilseeds is geared at increasing internal capacity to produce cooking oil whose estimated demand is at 200,000 tonnes. He said the Agricultural Input Trust Fund has also increased its scope of giving out loans, to include small processing machines which can easily be bought by individual farmers or by groups.

He explained that his ministry is ready to assist farmers acquire small oilseed processing machines, which are already available in Kigoma Region. "This is also a good opportunity for groups especially women entrepreneur groups to acquire small oilseed processing machines to process sunflower seeds," he explained.