Tanzania maize production hits 11.7 million tonnes in 2024/2025
Tanzania’s maize production reached a record 11.7 million tonnes, making it Africa’s third-largest producer. The government aims for 15 million tonnes by 2025/26, supported by fertilizer subsidies and land measurement initiatives. FAO forecasts total cereal production at 13.9 million tonnes, boosting exports. Despite a 16% maize price rise, ample supply keeps prices 20% lower than last year.
AGRICULTURE Minister Hussein Bashe has said maize production has increased in the country, with the first time Tanzania has managed to produce 11.7 million tonnes that led to the third producer of maize on the African continent.
Bashe said this in Dodoma, during a ceremony to hand over a $ 13 billion payment check to the tobacco farmers in the country for expanding the scope of agriculture in various areas.
He said that increased maize production for the first time is a major step in the agricultural sector and increased the government will improve the agricultural environment to ensure we continue to take action.
He said that if the country aims to produce 15 million tonnes by 2025/2026, including 30 sacks per acre, which will increase the economy of farmers but also expand the maize cultivation.
He said that fertilizer subsidies will continue for maize farmers, and the registration system will continue through the Tanzania Fertilizer Regulatory Authority (TFRA), so he has called on farmers to continue registering in the fertilizer system.
However, he said the government would begin to suspend smallholder farmers by measuring farms and would start with Songwe Region in collaboration with the Land Use Commission.
Commenting on fertilizer the minister said that the use of fertilizers in the country has increased, where
He said that earlier before the fertilizer subsidized system started spending was 360,000 tonnes but after the start of the subsidy system the use is 840,000 tonnes.
He said the government’s goal this season was to increase the use of subsidized fertilizers in the country to one million tonnes in the 2025 and 2026 agricultural season with the aim of expanding the scope of agricultural agriculture in the country.
“The government is planning to increase maize production as well as other crops which is why we have put in place a strategy to increase the use of subsidized fertilizers for farmers,” said Bashe.
He said the government would continue with the provision of subsidized fertilizers in various crops in the country, while emphasizing the use of subsidized fertilizers next season will reach one million tonnes in various parts of the country and this does not live with tobacco fertilizers.
Bashe explained that the use of fertilizers on one acre was 15 kg, but now we have reached 24 kg per acre but the government is also planning to reach 50 kg on acres with the goal of expanding the agricultural scope in the country.
Bashe said if the country had subsidized the maize and sunflower seeds and added that the National Food Security Agency (NFRA) would be the main buyer of the country’s maize.
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) forecasts projected that Tanzania’s total cereal production, including maize, is forecasted at a record 13.9 million tonnes, approximately 22 percent higher than the previous year.
This surplus has enabled increased maize exports to neighboring countries facing production challenges, such as Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Malawi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia.
Despite a 16 percent rise in maize prices between June and November 2024, driven by strong export demand, prices remain about 20 percent lower than the previous year due to ample domestic supply.
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Source : IPP Media
