Africa-Press – Tanzania. PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has approved an additional 50bn/- which will be used for purchasing maize from farmers in the country as part of the government efforts to resolve the crop market crisis.
The good news was announced before the National Assembly here yesterday by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa when adjourning the fourth Parliament meeting.
“Purchasing of maize will begin on Monday, September 13, 2021… I direct the Ministry of Agriculture to closely supervise the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) to buy the crop from farmers only and from within the country,“ he said.
In addition, the Prime Minister directed the ministry to increase the number of selling centres in the districts and small towns and continue looking for more markets by finalising new maize procurement agreements with South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zimbabwe.
The development follows a resolution passed by the Parliament on Thursday, which among other things wanted the government to resolve the maize market crisis, including increasing funds allocated to purchase the cereals.
According to the Prime Minister, the Government has also allowed traders to seek overseas markets where export permits are issued through the offices of district commissioners with the aim of keeping records of the amount of maize exported and the level of foreign exchange gained to the country.
He explained that the export of food will be done very carefully to ensure that the country continues to have adequate food stocks.
“I should continue to urge the ministry to work with the private sector in adding value to our products, including cereals, instead of selling them all without the added value,” the prime minister said.
On the other hand, the Prime Minister noted that the government will continue to monitor the availability of fertiliser to ensure that such farm input, is available in large quantities and also at affordable prices.
“The government’s goal is to enable farmers to prepare for the upcoming agricultural season, especially with the access to fertiliser,” he said.
On Thursday Kilolo MP Justine Nyamoga (CCM) moved a private motion aimed to advise the government to intervene in the maize market to save farmers who have lots of it after harvest.
He told the House that the maize crop was not only cultivated for food purposes, but also for commercial. According to him, farmers in particular from Mbeya, Ruvuma, Rukwa, Katavi and Songwe and some districts have harvested tonnes of the crops, but they have not managed to get a reliable market.
The lawmaker, thus, requested his fellow lawmakers to support his motion so that the government could come up with a concrete solution on such crises that has engulfed the famers from the regions in question, who are main maize producers.
The MPs backed the lawmaker by passing a resolution requiring the government to resolve the maize market crisis, including increasing the allocated funds for purchasing the crop from 14bn/- to about 100bn/- as requested by the NFRA.
Members of Parliament (MPs) also resolved that crop sales centres should be increased and borders should be opened to allow various traders from Tanzania to export the crop and those who are outside the country come in and buy maize from the farmers.
The MPs also resolved that the price of agricultural inputs, especially fertilisers, should drop before the start of this year’s farming season to enable farmers to engage effectively in farming activities.
