As you are all aware, agriculture contributes over 60% to the GDP and employs over 80% of the population. This reminds the importance of agricultural sector to this country's livelihood, which implies more work to all of us to enhance its performance. Over the past few years the Ministry has undergone rationalisation exercises, which included restructuring and re-deployment, which all together meant to ensure attainment of a quantifiable agricultural output. In the due course the organisational structure of the then DRT changed to form two separate Directories: DRD and DTI responsible for research and training respectively.

Despite these restructural changes, I am glad that, our research mandates remain to be that of planning and executing public sector agricultural research and disseminating findings to the farming community. The DRD is also responsible for developing technologies, which contribute in the conservation of natural resources base and sustenance of agricultural production systems. Let me point out at this juncture that the DRD has always adhered to its basic philosophy of ensuring that the research is client-driven, demand driven and cost effective. As you may recall, over the past 10 years the research has undergone considerable reforms, which to a large extent improved the research working environment and ability to focus on farmers' problems. This has been achieved under financial support of various donor agencies and the government of Tanzania. On behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives, I would like to extend my appreciation to the donor community for their assistance.

It is interesting to mention the Research Master Plan, which is to a larger extent a founding stone to the research achievement we see today. The implementation of NALRP and now TARP II is the result of the footsteps outlined in the Research Master Plan. I believe, there has been some snags in the implementation of the Research Master Plan, but let me assure you that these are the challenges, which you and me are here fore. You can agree with me that it is difficult to address all the problems in our research system within the time frame of less than the decade. My hop is that as time goes by we will continue to find solutions to our problems. If I may emphasise, or research output has to a large extent been negatively affected by meagre budgetary allocation. For that matter challenges are again upon us on how we can pull together resources to reach our common goal. It is good news for some research commodities like cashew, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco and cotton where the beneficiaries and stakeholders are bearing the research costs. This throws a big challenge to us, as we have to provide good quality research results that satisfy our clients to warrant continued funding. I am prompted to believe this has been the motive and more and more good services will be delivered.

For the commodities, which still depend on government allocation the situation is not likely to change unless the government revenues improve. This poses another challenge to us to think about other sources of revenues. I am optimistic that with our concerted efforts our way is green and new avenues can be sought.

Let me now talk about the role of information management and communication technologies in the development of the agricultural sector. Admittedly, the information management systems, which include the quality of our institutes' libraries, the various reports we produce, and our communication facilities are mostly in very poor condition. For a research system to be able to deliver good results it should be accompanied by a well-established information management and communication systems. This has been realised by the majority of us and that is why under TARP II there has been financial commitment to improve the whole range of information systems. Among such activities is the strengthening of zonal information and Documentation offices that will include appointment and training Information Liaison Officers. Efforts are underway to equip these offices with relevant facilities such as furniture, computers and reading materials that would involve a compilation and procurement of relevant Journals and Textbooks. We hope this will ease the very long-standing problem on the unavailability of Journals and reference books and thus improve the quality of our research output.

Regarding communication between zones and the DRD headquarters, there has been improvement in some zones whereby they are now accessible electronically through connection to e-mail. Our efforts are being delayed by lack of reliable telephone lines to the remaining research institutes. I would like to commit myself that once the Telephone Company has done its job we can make sure that all the remaining research institutes are accessible electronically.

Furthermore, I would like to remind every research scientist that research does not end until results have been published. It is only through publishing one can build his/her carrier and widely recognised and accepted in the scientific world. For us in Tanzania we are very fortunate today after the inauguration of TAJAS, which has increased our avenues through which our papers can be published, together with the widely scattered regional and international journals all around us. I urge you all to commit yourselves into this endeavour, without which any body will ever recognise or appreciate whatever we are doing, otherwise it would be a waster of time and resources.

Lastly, let me call upon every body to work hard and diligently to address all the challenges facing the farmers and the agricultural sector in general. This is the only way we can win the confidence of our policy makers and thus reconsiders redressing our incentive packages and increase budgetary allocation to our research activities.

Jeremiah M. Haki (Ph.D)

Director of Research and Development