Dar es Salaam, June 1 -- THE government has acquired a 6bn/- aircraft designed to combat crop and plant pests through aerial surveillance and precision spraying.

The decision to purchase the aircraft is meant to safeguard agriculture and strengthen food security.

Speaking after receiving the aircraft on Friday, Minister for Agriculture Hussein Bashe said that its acquisition is in line with the ruling party CCMs five-year manifesto, which concludes this year.

“The plane will enhance efficiency and expand the scope of surveillance and control of plant pests in the country,” he said.

He added: “This plane will greatly assist in controlling plant pests, especially destructive birds like the quelea quelea, armyworms and ...