Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE Minister for Agriculture Professor Adolf Mkenda has directed the Cashew Nut Board of Tanzania (CBT) to come up with a considerable plan on how export levy which was remitted to farmers will help to improve productivity.
In 2018 the government made amendments on cashew nut industry which allowed all money generated from the cashew nut export levy – charged on exporters – to be channeled to the consolidated fund without remitting anything for the development of the industry.
Prof Mkenda said his ministry was making follow-up to ensure that the export levy on cashew nut is reinstated to help in the development of the industry as intended when the charges were introduced.
He explained that, export levy is charged only on cashewnut and raw hides, thus there was a need for remitting the funds to farmers for the development of the industry.
The minister made the directives here yesterday when officiating at the Annual Cashew Stakeholders Meeting 2021
He said the board, through its plan should state the purpose and how the funds will be spent to enable the release of the funds.
“I hereby direct the respective board to deliberate and come up with a plan stating why the funds should be remitted to farmers for the government to consider the need for disbursing the required percentage for the development of the crop,” he said.
Professor Mkenda underscored the importance of the money in developing the cashew crop, insisting that the government sees the need to release the funds for the betterment of farmers and the country at large.
The minister told the meeting that the government is committed to ensure smooth development and supervision of the cashew crop in the country through the provision of the agriculture inputs, and other facilities need to improve the crop.
He said the government has started providing inputs subsidy to cashew farmers whereby this year alone, some 3,000 tonnes of input subsidy including 1,000,000 litres of liquid Sulphur were provided to cashew farmers to facilitate crop efficiency in the 2021/22 harvest season.
He, however, said the provision of the subsidy to farmers was delayed due to funding procedures, but noted that government was well prepared to ensure the inputs are provided on time and required quantity to enable smooth development of the crop.
“I just want to assure you that my ministry in collaboration with the cashew nut Board and the agricultural cooperative unions are well set to ensure the inputs reach the farmers at the right time,” he said.
To ensure the plan is achieved, Professor Mkenda said his ministry has tasked the CBT in collaboration with agricultural cooperative Unions to register and avail to his office the number of cashew farmers in the country, the number of cashew trees they own and the cashew based regions in order to enable the government plan better in the provision of input subsidy.
He also tasked the CBT to start providing farming equipment to agricultural extension officers towards improving extension services to farmers in cashew based regions.
