Africa-Press – Tanzania. FIRST cashew nut auction for 2021/2022 kicked off here on Friday with the Regional Commissioner Brigadier General Marco Gaguti warning cashew growers’ representatives against sabotaging farmers during the trading season.
The auction was conducted in Newala District by Tandahimba and Newala Cooperative Union (Tanecu) where some 1,486 kilograms of cashew nuts worth over 3bn/ were sold at a minimum price of 2,445/ and maximum price of 2231/ per kilogram.
Some 16 firms participated in the auction. Officiating at the first auction, Brig Gen Gaguti insisted on the need for the cooperative unions to ensure fairness to the cashew growers during the trading season so that they can benefit from the cash crop.
“I call upon the leaders of the cooperative unions to stop the habits of sabotaging farmers by luring them and instead support them when selling their produce,” he said.
The RC urged the cashew growers in the region to stick on good management of their cashew nuts during harvest and storage so that they can sell them with premium quality.
He said Tanzania is known for producing best cashew nuts and thus need for the farmers in Mtwara to exercise good practices during harvest and storage so as to sell quality nuts that will fetch higher prices in the market.
“The government is eager to see every cashew grower in our country is benefiting from the cash crop and for that matter it would be unfair to see farmers selling low quality produce that would not earn them what they deserve,” he said.
Brig Gen Gaguti also directed the regional district leaders in Mtwara to be in the forefront in protecting farmers by safeguarding their rights during the trading season to avoid sabotage.
He directed the leaders to ensure the cooperative unions and other players to take part in the auctions to stick to efficiency and honesty during the cashew auctions for the farmers to reap from their nuts.
The RC told the leaders to also ensure stern measure is taken to the culprits, noting that the government was aware of people planning to sabotage farmers during the auctions, warning them to stop the plan with immediate effect.
In another development, the RC urged the cooperative and other players in the cashew nut value addition chain to ensure better management and sell of quality cashew nuts for better prices.
Speaking during the auction, General Manager of TANECU Mohammed Nassoro said the prices revealed at the first auction indicates a good start saying the prices are expected to increase come next auctions.
However, most farmers who spoke to the ‘Sunday News ‘ said the prices were still low calling for buyers to consider raising the prices to enable farmers afford production costs.
