DAR ES SALAAM: The Netherlands has launched a new initiative aimed at reducing antibiotic use in Tanzania’s rapidly growing poultry industry, as global concern rises over antimicrobial resistance and food safety.
The programme was unveiled at a seminar attended by livestock and veterinary officers from Dar es Salaam, Coast and Morogoro regions. Dutch Deputy Ambassador Onno Koopmans said the initiative seeks to promote preventive farm management rather than routine medication.
“I am not against medicine,” Koopmans said. “But it must be the last option, not the first response.”
Antimicrobial resistance has been identified by the World Health Organization as one of the most serious global public health threats, driven in part by overuse of antibiotics in both human and animal health systems. Experts warn that routine preventative dosing in livestock can accelerate resistant bacteria, with implications for food chains and export markets.
The new effort builds on five years of cooperation between Tanzania and the Netherlands that has shifted from development aid toward technical partnership. A key component involves collaboration between the Aeres Training Centre in the Netherlands and Tanzania’s Livestock Training Agency to modernise poultry training curricula.
Training modules now emphasise biosecurity, hygiene, water management, vaccination protocols and responsible veterinary supervision. Officials say preventive strategies can reduce disease outbreaks while maintaining productivity.
Tanzania’s poultry sector has expanded quickly in response to urbanisation, rising incomes and increased demand for affordable protein. However, much of the production remains small-scale and informal, presenting regulatory challenges.
Livestock Training Agency Executive Director Dr Wende Ilomo said embedding responsible antibiotic practices into national training systems would help future-proof the industry. “We are building long-term resilience in our food systems,” she said.
Officials say strengthening standards could also improve export potential within the East African region, where food safety compliance is increasingly scrutinised.
The initiative reflects broader efforts by the Netherlands to support sustainable agriculture globally, combining technical expertise with local institutional capacity-building.
