Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Professor Peter Msofe, has said the government has begun research into producing date palm seedlings to promote the crop and improve their availability across the country.

Speaking after visiting exhibition booths at the 46th World Food Day celebrations, held nationally in Tanga Region, Professor Msofe said the research is expected to help increase date production in Tanzania once completed.

Gasper Mgimiloko, a researcher at the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), said the institute currently has more than 3,700 seeds undergoing research and propagation. He said the seedlings will be distributed to farmers once the process is complete.