Dar es Salaam, June 17 -- IN a bold move to safeguard national food security, the government has grabbed the pest threat by the horns investing billion shillings in a state-of-the-art aircraft designed specifically for combating crop-destroying pests from the air.

The newly acquired 6.0bn/- Thrush 510P2+ aircraft marks a significant step in the countrys fight against destructive pests such as locusts, red-billed quelea and army worms, which have long plagued farmers and devastated key staples like rice, maize and millet.

The plane is equipped for rapid, large-scale aerial spraying, allowing authorities to respond swiftly to outbreaks before they spiral out of control. Agriculture remains the backbone of Tanzanias economy, providing live...