Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE NATIONAL Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) Sumbawanga Zone has purchased 20,000 tonnes of maize valued at over 11bn/- from farmers in Rukwa Region during this purchasing season. Rukwa Regional Commissioner, Joseph Mkirikiti revealed this while addressing a press conference held here in the municipality yesterday.
Mr Mkirikiti lauded the government for its bold decision taken last month to approve an additional 50bn/- for purchasing maize from farmers, including Rukwa Region, which is part of the State efforts to resolve the crop market crisis “There is need to address the crop market crisis which is still afflicting farmers in Rukwa Region, because this season they have realised a bumper surplus of 600,000 tonnes of cereals” noted the RC.
Across section of farmers interviewed by this paper pleaded with the government to increase selling centres in the region, particularly in small towns to bring the crop market closer to them.
Available statistics from Rukwa Region Secretariat Economy Section show that farmers in the region have realized 1,319,657.28 tonnes of food and cash crops, equivalent to 84.16 per cent below the target of harvesting 1,568,067.67 tones.
Maize is one of the most important crops in Tanzania, it comprises 45 per cent and 70 per cent of the cereal cultivated area. Tanzania is ranked among the top 25 maize producing countries in the world in the last two decades.
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