Tenzania urges farmers to seek export markets
Tanzanian authorities are urging maize farmers to explore neighboring markets for their surplus produce, anticipating a bumper harvest exceeding 1.2 million tonnes. The National Food Reserve Agency plans to purchase cereals from farmers starting July to manage food reserves for domestic and export markets. With 14 purchasing centers established in key maize-producing regions, the Ministry of Agriculture allocated Tsh300 billion for buying 300,000 tonnes of food crops during the June-July harvesting season. Minister Hussein Bashe projects a 31.5 million tonne food crop output, with maize alone expected to yield over 10 million tonnes this season.
Tanzanian authorities have urged maize farmers to seek markets in neighbouring countries for their
surplus. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the country expects a bumper harvest, and the surplus will exceed the preliminary demand assessment of maize, more than 1,2 million tonnes estimated for
export markets in neighbouring countries.
The National Food Reserve Agency is set to purchase cereals from farmers earlier in July due to
expected bumper maize harvests from key growing areas in the southern region.
National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) executive director Dr Andrew Komba said the agency was set to
start buying maize, rice and other food crops from farmers for storage and selling to local and foreign
food markets beginning July.
NFRA strategy was to manage food reserves to ensure sustainable supply that would meet both
domestic and export needs, the food agency officials said.
The agency had opened 14 crop purchasing centres in leading maize producing areas in the southern
highlands. Ministry of Agriculture had allocated Tsh300 billion (US$115 million) for buying some 300
000 tonnes of food crops during the harvesting season between June and July.
Minister for Agriculture Hussein Bashe said Tanzania expects to produce 31,5 million tonnes of food
crops compared with 20.4 million tonnes harvested last year. He zsaid the country expects to harvest
over 10 million tonnes of maize during the 2024 season that runs between mid-June and July. – The
East African
Source Link: https://www.herald.co.zw/tanzania-urges-farmers-to-seek-export-markets/
