Maize boom in season of surplus
TANZANIA: TANZANIA has produced a surplus of 2.1 million tonnes of maize during the 2022/23 season, it has been revealed.
According to Agriculture Minister Hussein Bashe, during the season, the country’s farmers produced 8.1 million tonnes against a demand of 6 million tonnes.
Mr Bashe said on Monday on social media that production is expected to reach 10 million tonnes in this 2023/24 season.
“The projection is even higher, and needy countries have started communicating with us,” said Mr Bashe on his X (previously Twitter) account.
He advised maize traders that it is high time for them to expand their businesses by looking for countries that have a shortage of the crop.
Tanzania’s trade pattern has expanded towards Kenya, Congo, and Rwanda, but there are countries with shortages, including Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique.
Additionally, the surplus will exceed the preliminary demand assessment of corn of more than 1.2 million tonnes conducted for the needy countries.
He advised traders who stored corn last season to continue storing since the Ministry of Agriculture would start issuing export permits for free through the Agricultural Trade Management Information System (ATMIS).
Furthermore, he urged farmers not to sell their products due to overproduction to avoid selling at lower prices; instead, they should reserve to make more profit in the near future.
“Prices may change in June, so try to save them, don’t rush to sell,” he advised.
Speaking of the government’s initiatives to support farmers, Mr. Bashe advised farmers who have started harvesting to regrow hybrid sunflower and Open Pollinated Variety (OPV) seeds in the current monsoon rains as announced by the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA).
He said the Government will continue to buy corn to protect the farmer without affecting the consumer and also mentioned that fertilizer subsidies will continue.
“I gave directives to TFRA that the system should not be closed to farmers who have finished the slot for this season and are returning to the farm…also, returning farmers should also get fertilizer,” he emphasised.
Source Link: https://dailynews.co.tz/maize-boom-in-season-of-surplus/
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