DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian authorities on Monday urged local scientists to conduct research aimed at transforming the country's semi-arid regions into opportunities for growth.

Vice President Philip Mpango issued the call while speaking at the 30th anniversary of the Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) in Tanzania's port city of Dar es Salaam.

ESRF, an independent policy research think tank established in 1994, supports Tanzania's economic management through research and evidence-based recommendations.

"We have hitherto been brought to believe that semi-arid areas are unproductive or wasteland," said Mpango, adding that examples from countries like Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States demonstrate their potential to be highly productive.

Mpango emphasized that with targeted research, semi-arid regions such as Dodoma, Singida, and Shinyanga could yield new crops beyond the traditional varieties typically grown in such areas.

"Research geared towards agriculture development by tapping underground water or aquifers and rainwater harvesting, among others, could usher in an agricultural transformation in these areas," he said. Enditem

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