What about R&D?..The Case of Foreign Aid Influx & 'A Japanese Expert' Invite

[Nyani Ngabu]

Aisee, Nyani:
Yaani unataka nasi tukaanzie huko? Unajua iliwachukua miaka mingapi kufikia hapo walipo?

Sisi tuna faida ya ku-'leapfrog,' pamoja na kwamba nasi pia hatuwezi kukwepa 'process' itakayotupeleka katika maendeleo hayo (kwa muda mfupi kuliko waingereza); kwani hatuna haja tena ya kwenda kuvumbua gurudumu.

Pamoja na kwamba njia yetu itakuwa ni fupi, lakini hatuwezi kuyakwepa maandalizi mhimu yanayotakiwa kutupeleka kwenye hayo maendeleo. Ni haya maandalizi ndiyo yanayotusumbua sasa hivi.

Yaani kuwa na shule za kutosha na nzuri ili wataalam wawepo.
Pawe na miundombinu, barabara nzuri kupitisha pembejeo kwa mkulima.
Afya - watoto wasiishie kufa hata kabla ya kufikisha miaka mitano.
Viwanda mhimu - kuyaongezea mazao yetu thamani kabla ya kuyauza nje kwa bei nzuri.

Mifano ya wenzetu tumeiona: Korea ya Kusini, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, Morocco, Tunisia - nchi zote hizi hawakuwa mbali sana na sisi kimaendeleo miaka michache iliyopita?

Mimi ninasema: Tunaweza, tuendelee vizuri na kuchapa kazi; mradi tu mafisadi wasiturudishe nyuma zaidi.

Nadhani umei-miss point yangu.....

 

[Kitila Mkumbo]

Nadhani umei-miss point yangu.....

Nami nahisi hivyo, otherwise ana point lakini ameiweka ina a wrong place probably at the wrong time also!

 

[Bin Maryam]

Tatizo: Ndivyo Tulivyo!!

Ngabu:

Sivyo Tulivyo. Nakumbuka sherehe ya uhuru kama miaka miwili iliyopita na Mwanakijiji aliandika posti moja kule Darhotboard. Katika mchango wangu nilitoa mfano wa wanaIsrael walitoka utumwani Misri.

Safari yao kwa mwendo wa miguu isingechukua zaidi ya miezi miwili lakini Mungu aliwafanya watangetange jangwani kwa miaka 40.

Katika kutangatanga kwao kuna waliotaka kurudi Misri kwa sababu walikosa mbogamboga. Na kuna wengine hawakuwa na imani ya kidini. Na kuna waliochonga ndama wa kuabudu. Hivyo miaka 40 ilikuwa ni therapy kubwa kwao.

Kuanguka kwa miradi mingi katika kipindi cha nyuma kulikuwa kumeandikwa UKUTANI. Vitu vingi tulivyofanya vilikuwa havijaota mizizi katika jamii yetu. Mtu anamaliza chuo na kwenda kuwa meneja wa Benki. Je ulikuwa unataka nini kama sio disaster. Mtu alikuwa anasomeshwa shule ili arudi nyumbani awe jaji tena wa mahakama kuu, unategemea nini?

Vitu vingi vimeanza kuota mizizi. Hiki ni kipindi tunachoweza ku-kick off maendeleo ya maana.

 

[Kubwajinga]

I have been wondering (I tend to do that a lot) about the most recent aid package from the US; I mean the almost 700 Million Dollars from the MCA that is intended for infrastructure development and other things..

What I have been wondering about mostly is about the amount of funds or aid from donors that is intended for our Research and Development capabilities? I mean not the regular funds we receive that has always gone to research on "tropical diseases or tse tse flies research" or research on some maize seeds at Uyole or Sokoine; I mean researches that would lead into innovation and inventions of new products and technologies?

I believe it is research and development that are the catalyst for economic development and prosperity of a modern nation. Such is the case in US, Germany, UK, Japan, China, and now India.

How much of our Science and Technology budget annuarly is set aside for R&D in the country? Can we really make that leap towards a more modern and technologically advanced nation without investing heavily in our R&D industries? Do we even have such industries?

I don't know, I'm just wondering...

It all depends on the visionary of our leaders. When JKN was asking for assistance in the 60/70s, he would go for grant to build UDSM, TAZARA, Urafiki e.t.c. Nowdays, we are hosting a US prez and are asking him to buy us mosquito nets and the Chinese build us 'our' national stadium. At the same time, we busy stealing 3x of the cost of the stadium from our BOT coffers with impunity. What a joke.

If we have ministers fighting for tenders, 10% and ubia with investers, when will they have time to stratergise on behalf of the nation? We are doomed to fail unless there are big changes.

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

Bin Maryam, kwanza tunakubaliana kabisa kuwa hii R & D tunayoizungumzia siyo kuendeleza kompyuta na Ipod tu.. lakini is a total revolution in our research and development capability that would impact every sphere of our lives.. Kwa sababu sidhani kama tunaweza kufanya mabadiliko kwenye Ipod tu bila kusababisha mabadiliko kwenye kilimo, elimu n.k nilidhani tulenge kuleta mabadiliko katika ujumla wake.

Lakini ni nini basi kinatuzuia kufikia lengo hilo? Ni nini vilivyo vikwazo vya kufanya mabadiliko hayo. Kimoja ambacho nina uhakika si tatizo ni fedha.

 

[Nyani Ngabu]

Bin Maryam, kwanza tunakubaliana kabisa kuwa hii R & D tunayoizungumzia siyo kuendeleza kompyuta na Ipod tu.. lakini is a total revolution in our research and development capability that would impact every sphere of our lives.. Kwa sababu sidhani kama tunaweza kufanya mabadiliko kwenye Ipod tu bila kusababisha mabadiliko kwenye kilimo, elimu n.k nilidhani tulenge kuleta mabadiliko katika ujumla wake.

Lakini ni nini basi kinatuzuia kufikia lengo hilo? Ni nini vilivyo vikwazo vya kufanya mabadiliko hayo. Kimoja ambacho nina uhakika si tatizo ni fedha.

So tell us my friend...if it's not money then what is it? Don't dance around just tell it like it is that you think it is...

 

[The Invincible]

mimi kama mchumi(business economist) nina mengi ya kuchangia hapa. lakini nitaishia kuchanganyikiwa tu.

naungana na nyani ngabu: waafrika ndivyo tulivyo. naongezea jingine: ng'oa ccm madarakani ili tuanze upya kuhusu utume(mission), malengo, sera, mikakati na mipango ya kuendeleza tanzania.

 

[Nyani Ngabu]

mimi kama mchumi(business economist) nina mengi ya kuchangia hapa. lakini nitaishia kuchanganyikiwa tu.

naungana na nyani ngabu: waafrika ndivyo tulivyo. naongezea jingine: ng'oa ccm madarakani ili tuanze upya kuhusu utume(mission), malengo, sera, mikakati na mipango ya kuendeleza tanzania.

Just an observation...ktk baadhi ya nchi jirani vyama tawala vimekwishang'olewa lakini hakuna tofauti yoyote iliyotokea.

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

Just an observation...ktk baadhi ya nchi jirani vyama tawala vimekwishang'olewa lakini hakuna tofauti yoyote iliyotokea.

which brings us back to the same question.. what is wrong with us; and you of course provide what seems to be the only answer "ndivyo tulivyo"...

 

[Fundi Mchundo]

Jamani eeeh...mimi kila mara nauliza hapa ni nani alizisaidia nchi za Ulaya na Marekani kuwa na maendeleo kama waliyonayo? Ni nini/ nani alileta mageuzi ya viwanda kule Uingereza na kwingineko ulaya? Nani aliwaletea haya mageuzi?

Mbona yalitokea ulaya tu au ulaya iliumbwa kwanza na Mungu halafu baadae ndio ikaja ikaumbwa Afrika?

Mababu na mabibi zako waliochukuliwa kwenda Latin Amerika, visiwa vya karibian na Marekani ya kaskazini. Mababu na mabibi zako waliokatwa mikono na mfalme Leopold wa Ubelgiji ili kama adhabu ya kutovuma zao la mpira pori katika misitu ya Kongo. Mababu na mabibi zako waliowindwa kama wadudu waharibifu katika jangwa la Kalahari. Mababu zako waliochukuliwa kwenda kupigana Burma na Ulaya katika vita isiyokuhusu. Watu kama nyinyi mliosoma the Bell Curve na kuamini kuwa kweli mmelaaniwa kutokana na rangi yako!

 

[Mkandara]

Nani Ngabu,
Mkuu nakubaliana na wewe 100%, na hasa nikitazama maelezo ya KUBWAJINGA yaani ndio tumefunga msahafu...
It all depends on the visionary of our leaders. When JKN was asking for assistance in the 60/70s, he would go for grant to build UDSM, TAZARA, Urafiki e.t.c. Nowdays, we are hosting a US prez and are asking him to buy us mosquito nets and the Chinese build us 'our' national stadium. At the same time, we busy stealing 3x of the cost of the stadium from our BOT coffers with impunity. What a joke.
If we have ministers fighting for tenders, 10% and ubia with investers, when will they have time to stratergise on behalf of the nation? We are doomed to fail unless there are big changes.

 

[Kalamu]

Nani Ngabu,
Mkuu nakubaliana na wewe 100%, na hasa nikitazama maelezo ya KUBWAJINGA yaani ndio tumefunga msahafu...
It all depends on the visionary of our leaders. When JKN was asking for assistance in the 60/70s, he would go for grant to build UDSM, TAZARA, Urafiki e.t.c. Nowdays, we are hosting a US prez and are asking him to buy us mosquito nets and the Chinese build us 'our' national stadium. At the same time, we busy stealing 3x of the cost of the stadium from our BOT coffers with impunity. What a joke.
If we have ministers fighting for tenders, 10% and ubia with investers, when will they have time to stratergise on behalf of the nation? We are doomed to fail unless there are big changes.

Ongeza kwenye orodha hiyo:
Dhahabu inayouzwa kwa bei ya juu kabisa duniani sasa hivi inachimbwa hapa hapa lakini sisi wenye mali tunagawiwa rasharasha ya kutulaza usingizi.

 

[Kalamu]

Mababu na mabibi zako waliochukuliwa kwenda Latin Amerika, visiwa vya karibian na Marekani ya kaskazini. Mababu na mabibi zako waliokatwa mikono na mfalme Leopold wa Ubelgiji ili kama adhabu ya kutovuma zao la mpira pori katika misitu ya Kongo. Mababu na mabibi zako waliowindwa kama wadudu waharibifu katika jangwa la Kalahari. Mababu zako waliochukuliwa kwenda kupigana Burma na Ulaya katika vita isiyokuhusu. Watu kama nyinyi mliosoma the Bell Curve na kuamini kuwa kweli mmelaaniwa kutokana na rangi yako!

I fully concur.

Acha wizi wa watu. Mali ghafi, madini na hata teknologia waliyokwenda kui-refine na kudai kila kitu ni chao.

Lakini hata hayo maendeleo tunayowasifia, kwa mfano waMarekani - msukumo mkubwa umeingia katika miaka hii ya karibuni kabisa - kwenye 1960s walipoamua kupanua elimu yao ya vyuo vikuu.
Sasa hivi watu wanataka tuamini kuwa Marekani hali zao zimekuwa hivi hivi kama tunavyoziona leo hii. Hii sio kweli.

Nasi pia pamoja na matatizo yetu mengi, hasa ya wizi na kutokuwa na mipango na utendaji mzuri, hali zetu zimebadilika kidogo. Bila shaka ningependa hali iwe imebadilika zaidiya hii iliyopo sasa; lakini ni tofauti na kusema kuwa hatubadiliki kabisa.

'Mwalimu' alitamani sisi tuwe tunakimbia wakati wenzetu wakitembea. Tujuavyo sote, hili limetuwia gumu kwa sababu mbalimbali, nyingi zikiwa tunazozisababisha sisi wenyewe.

 

[Fundi Mchundo]

Kwa wakina Nyani Ngabu,

Tanganyika peacefully won its independence. Tanzania however was ill prepared for independence. The first secondary school was opened in 1930, and when World War II ended in 1945, only one school offered education through the twelfth grade in the entire country. It had six students. Colonial education expanded after 1950, but mainly in urban areas. Bright high school graduates were sent to Makerere College in Uganda or the Royal Technical College in Kenya (Nairobi University). By 1959 only 70 Tanzanian African had earned university degrees and 20 of these were teachers.

Tusisahau tulikotoka. miaka karibu 30 baada ya muingereza kuchukua nchi, tulikuwa na shule moja yenye kutoa mafunzo ya sekondari nchi nzima na ilchukuwa wanafunzi sita tu. Miaka 41 ya utawala wa muingereza tulikuwa na graduates 70. Katika hao madaktari hawakuzidi kumi. Sijui kama wahandisi walifika watano! Miaka 41 ya kujitawala wenyewe, tunaexport madaktari Botswana,wahandisi wako kwenye mamia (kama sio maelfu), wasomi wetu wa nyanja mbalimbali wameenea dunia nzima. Leo hii maelfu ya watoto wetu wako kwenye vyuo vyetu vikuu wakitafuta elimu.

Frantz Fanon alisema ( si kwa maneno haya haswa) kuwa dhambi kubwa aliyofanya mkoloni ni kuwafanya waliowatawala kuamini kuwa wao wameumbwa duni kuliko huyo anayewatawala. Mtawaliwa hataweza kujikomboa hadi hapo atakapoikabili na kuiondoa imani hiyo ndani yake mwenyewe. Itachukua vizazi vingi mpaka sisi wenye ngozi nyeusi kuweza kuondoa sumu hii tuliyowekewa kwa takhriban miaka mia tano. Hii si sababu ya kukata tamaa.

Katika miaka ya sabini kuna mwandishi wa habari mmoja alimhoji mwanamapinduzi wa ANC kuhusu mapambano yao yasio na tumaini dhidi ya utawala wa makaburu. mwanaharakati huyo akamjibu " tulipoanzisha Umkhonto we Sizwe mwaka 1961 tuli'estimate' tutamng'oa kaburu katika miaka miwili which I think was a pretty good estimate! Yule mwandishi akasema hapo ndipo alipotambua kuwa hawa jamaa wata'prevail'.

pengine si kesho wala kesho kutwa lakini najua iko siku sis watu weusi tusimama bega kwa bega na wale waliotufananisha na tumbili!

Aluta Continua.

 

[Fundi Mchundo]

Tanzania has come a long way, and still has a long way to go. But give credit where credit is due, in spite of failures in a number of areas, and which must be acknowledged by all of us. I even admit that in my books. But also look at where we were before: At independence in 1961, Tanganyika (before uniting with Zanzibar in 1964 to form Tanzania) had only 120 university graduates, including two lawyers who had to draft and negotiate more than 150 international treaties for the young nation and handle other legal matters for the country. With 120 university graduates, Tanganyika was, of course, better off than the former Belgian Congo which had only 16 at independence in 1960, and Nyasaland (now Malawi) with only 34 at independence in 1964. Still, that was nowhere close to what Tanganyika would have been had the British tried to develop the colony; which was never their intention. None of the 120 university graduates got their degrees in Tanganyika. There was no university in the country. The British never built one, and never intended to build one. Tanganyika built one after independence, and it became internationally renowned as an excellent academic institution in less than a decade.

The 120 university graduates Tanganyika had at independence was nothing in terms of manpower for a country; not even for a province or region. As Julius Nyerere said not long before he died:

"We took over a country with 85 percent of its adults illiterate. The British ruled us for 43 years. When they left, there were two trained engineers and 12 doctors. When I stepped down there was 91 percent literacy and nearly every child was at school. We trained thousands of engineers, doctors, and teachers."

Nimemnukuu Bw. Godfrey Mwakikagile.
Nilikosea mwanzo, madaktari walikuwa 12! Ndiyo hali waliyotuacha nayo hao mnaowasujudia!

 

[Fundi Mchundo]

Kwa maneno yake mwenyewe Frantz fanon kutoka kitabu chake " The Wretched of the Earth". Someni na muelewe. Alizungumza haya wakati Tanganyika inapata uhuru! Kipi kimebadilika?

It is a question of the Third World starting a new history of Man, a history which will have regard to the sometimes prodigious theses which Europe has put forward, but which will also not forget Europe’s crimes, of which the most horrible was committed in the heart of man, and consisted of the pathological tearing apart of his functions and the crumbling away of his unity. And in the framework of the collectivity there were the differentiations, the stratification and the bloodthirsty tensions fed by classes; and finally, on the immense scale of humanity, there were racial hatreds, slavery, exploitation and above all the bloodless genocide which consisted in the setting aside of fifteen thousand millions of men.

So, comrades, let us not pay tribute to Europe by creating states, institutions and societies which draw their inspiration from her.

Humanity is waiting for something other from us than such an imitation, which would be almost an obscene caricature.

If we want to turn Africa into a new Europe, and America into a new Europe, then let us leave the destiny of our countries to Europeans. They will know how to do it better than the most gifted among us.

But if we want humanity to advance a step farther, if we want to bring it up to a different level than that which Europe has shown it, then we must invent and we must make discoveries.

If we wish to live up to our peoples’ expectations, we must seek the response elsewhere than in Europe.

Moreover, if we wish to reply to the expectations of the people of Europe, it is no good sending them back a reflection, even an ideal reflection, of their society and their thought with which from time to time they feel immeasurably sickened.

For Europe, for ourselves and for humanity, comrades, we must turn over a new leaf, we must work out new concepts, and try to set afoot a new man.

 

[Rev. Kishoka]

lakini mbona hamuulizi private sector nayo inachangia ngapi katika hizo research? jibu ni zero,nchi nyingi percentage kubwa ya hizo fund zinatoka private sector,industry nyingi zina namna ya kufanya research zake bila kutegemea serikali kwa sababu is a big business na faida kubwa,angalia pharmaceutical or Energy industry nasikia wanatumia billions bila msaada wa serikali ili kupata kitu safi with maximum profit,kwa TZ naweza kusema hakuna serious industry kwa hiyo kuwa na research bila sector yenyewe naona kama ni ngumu sana

Koba,

Private sector ya wazawa si wabunifu, bali huchapia (copy) kilichofanywa na mwingine. Wao ni kukoroga dawa kwa vipimo, case closed!

 

[Rev. Kishoka]

Pamoja na kuwa na mtazamo wa kufuatilia Wachina, Wacuba hata Wamalaysia kwenye Teknolojia, mimi nafikiri tungeweka mkazo katika vitu ambavyo tuna uwezo mkubwa kuoanisha Utafiti na Uzalishaji mali.

Tumeshasema kuwa Kilimo ndio uti wa Mgongo. Tunacholima ni mbegu na mali ghafi ambazo ni hafifu na ubora wake ni mdogo. Kwa nini tusiweke kipaumbele kupitia SUA, Ukiliguru na vyuo vyote vya masuala ya Kilimo, Mifugo na Ufugaji ili kuleta mapinduzi ya Kilimo?

Mjerumani kabla ya kuondoka Tanganyika 1919, alikuwa ana master plan ya kulisha East and Central Africa kupitia bonde la Wembere (Singida Magharibi) mpaka Tabora na kutumia maji ya bonde na kuvuta mifereji kutoka Ziwa Nyanza (Victoria). Ikiwa wakati huo ni miaka karibu 100 imepita Mjerumani aliliona hili, tunashindwa nini sisi leo kuekeza nguvu zetu kuleta Mapinduzi ya kilimo na kuboresha kazi hii ambayo 75% ya Watanzania wanaitegemea kama njia ya kufanya kazi na kujipatia pato na mkate?

Ingekuwa mimi nipo katika kufanya haya maamuzi, ningefanya 65% ya allocation ya pesa na nguvu za utafiti ziende kwenye shughuli ambazo zitakuwa na immediate impact kutuongezea pato la Taifa. Mapinduzi haya ya Kilimo yangeanzia kwenye zana za kilimo, mbegu, mbolea, udongo, uhifadhi wa mbegu na mavuno kutokana na mali ghafi tulizonazo, kusindika na hata kutengeneza bidhaa kamili.

Starbucks walikataa kununua Kahawa ya Tanzania kwa pesa za kumrudishia Mkulima wa Tanzania walau 75% ya gharama kutokana na Kahawa yetu kuwa butu (isiyo na vikolombwezo)! Je tungekuwa na wataalamu wa kuongeza ubora na nakshi kwa kahawa yetu pale Mamlaka ya Kahawa au kampuni a kubagua kahawa si tungejipatia pesa nzuri tu kwa kilo? Mimi niliyeko Marekani nikitaka kahawa nzuri iwe ya Kenya, Ethiopia, Colombia hata Tanzania nikienda Starbucks, kilo moja kwenye kifurushi ni US $10! Kwa nini tusimpe nafasi mkulima wetu kupata japo $5 kwa kilo kwenye soko la dunia kwa kuongeza ubora wa kahawa yetu?

Somewhere in far east Asia, wamegundua mtindo mwingine wa kupata kahawa ya bei mbaya. Wanaacha aina fulani ya ngedere au nyani wale zile berries za kahawa halafu wakienda kunya, hiyo mbegu ya kahawa iliyopikwa kwa acid na kinyesi husafishwa na kukaangwa na kuuza kwa bei karibu US $ 150 kwa kilo!

Hakuna haja ya kukimbilia nguvu zote za utafiti kwenye Kompyuta au Magari yanayotumia maji ikiwa bado mkulima wa Kiembesamaki anatumia jembe la mkono. Si dhambi kuanza fikiria kutengeneza magari, lakini tuangalie priority iende wapi? Je tunaweza kufanya utafiti wa kuongeza marudufu uzazi wa samaki? Kule Lake Victoria Sangara anatafuna kila kitu, je tunawezaje kubadilisha tabia ya Sangara ili aina nyingine za Samaki ziwe na uhai na hivyo kuongeza aina za samaki wa kuuzwa nje?

Je tuendelee kukausha samaki kwa mkaa au tutumie kuni vilizoloweshwa maji ili harufu za kuni ziingie kwenye samaki kuongeza ladha?

Ukisoma manifesto za CCM, haya mapinduzi ya Kiteknolojia yametajwa, lakini nafikiri yamekaa kama mapambo na hakuna mwenye kujua njia nzuri ya kuweza kuhakikisha tunafika huko.

Tuna Sido, Veta, Tirdo, TFA, na upupu mwingi, kwa nini tusianze kwa kutoa nguvu hizi za kumapinduzi ya utafiti kwa hawa jamaa na si UDSM, SUA na sehemu yeyote inayoitwa Chuo?

Wale jamaa wa Gerezani wenye mambo ya kuchomea, wana design za ajabu jhujawahi ona, lakini wanatumia zana hafifu kufanya kazi zao za ubunifu, je hawafai kufanywa special project?

Je bwana Mianzi wa Iringa ambaye alipewa Kibunda na Mwalimu Nyerere siku ya Wafanyakazi kwa kutengeneza mabomba ya Mianzi, mradi wake umefika wapi?

Kama tuna nia ya kuhakiksha tunaleta mapinduzi ya Sayansi na Teknolojia, tutafanikiwa. Tusikimbilie sababu za kujizuia hata kuanza kufikiri eti tunaogopa Ufisadi au ni mpaka tuwe na Sheria zinazofanya kazi. Hii subiri subiri ndio inayofanya Barrick anachukua tani 10 za mchanga kwenda kupima rangi na tindikali nje ya nchi, kumbe kuna tani moja ya dhahabu ndani yake halafu wanatuambia wamepata kilo 10 kwa mwaka!

 

[Rev. Kishoka]

which brings us back to the same question.. what is wrong with us; and you of course provide what seems to be the only answer "ndivyo tulivyo"...

"You know damn right! This is Kerpal!"

 

[Rev. Kishoka]

Nimeiona hii Daily News nikasema labda tuweze kujadili kama tuna uwezo wa kutosha kufanya kilmo cha mbegu za GM au kufanya utafiti wenyewe na si ule wa kupelekewa uliofanyikia Iceland!

JAFFAR MJASIRI
Daily News; Monday,March 03, 2008 @19:03
THE Minister of State in the Vice-President’s Office (Environment), Dr Batilda Burian, has said that the government will ensure wider dissemination of education on proper handling and use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) to prevent the people, environment and other living things from the organisms’ side effects.

“The Vice-President’s Office has allocated 9.5bn/- this financial year to coordinate all environmental issues. This shows how committed the government is to protect human beings, animals, plants and the general environment,” she said. Dr Burian was speaking during a one day workshop on best strategies to handle GMOs, held in Dar es Salaam today.

She also launched the National Biosafety Committee (NBC), a technical committee which will advise the government on safety measures to be adapted to overcome the risk on the environment as well as on the people and animals. The minister also said the government had developed the national biosafety framework and national biosafety guidelines to facilitate importation and use of genetically modified organisms and their products.

She said the move was in line with the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety which was passed by member countries in Montreal Canada in 2000 and enforced in 2003 after being ratified by 50 countries. In 1992 the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro, passed the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The Director of Environment in the Ministry, Mr Erick Mugurusi, cited the use of insulin for diabetic patients as a good example of useful organisms which can save human lives. Genetically modified organism is any living thing which is capable of replication or transfer of genetic information. It includes plants, animals, bacteria and all other kinds of micro organisms. These organisms, according to scientists, are created and propagated by means of cell or gene technology in which the genetic material has been altered in a way that it does not occur naturally.