TANZANIA – The National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) has announced plans to purchase over 40,000 tonnes of maize from farmers in the northern zone during the 2024/25 fiscal year as part of its ongoing efforts to ensure food security in the region.
During an interview with IPP Media, Andrew Kanyika, the agency’s northern zone manager, shared this update, emphasizing the NFRA’s commitment to stabilizing maize markets and providing farmers with reliable outlets for their produce.
This comes after the agency announced plans to purchase 1.75 million tonnes of various grains from local farmers, targeting domestic and regional markets.
Dr. Andrew Komba, NFRA Director General, highlighted the agency’s expanded role in supporting the agricultural sector.
He noted that government funding for agriculture has increased significantly, from US$110 million in 2022 to over US$470 million in 2024.
“This increase is a clear indication of the government’s commitment to fostering agribusiness, curbing post-harvest losses, and boosting regional trade in agricultural products,” Dr. Komba stated.
On the domestic front, NFRA plans to purchase up to 600,000 tonnes of maize and rice from local farmers.
Over the past three years, the NFRA northern branch has successfully distributed 23,000 tonnes of maize across Kilimanjaro, Arusha, and Manyara regions.
This distribution was primarily aimed at addressing food scarcity in the region, ensuring that residents have access to affordable grain.
“Our mandate is to ensure food adequacy at reasonable prices, and we have consistently worked towards achieving this goal,” Kanyika stated.
In addition to its distribution efforts, the NFRA purchased 36,000 tonnes of maize from local farmers during the same period. Budgetary allocations facilitated these purchases, enabling the agency to secure sufficient quantities of grain and thereby providing a dependable market for farmers in the region.
This assurance of a stable market is crucial for the livelihoods of maize farmers, particularly in the face of fluctuating market conditions.
Looking ahead, the NFRA plans to raise the purchasing price of maize to TZS 700(US$ 0.26) per kilogram, up from the previous rate of TZS 650 (US$0.24).
This move aligns with President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s directive to offer farmers more attractive prices for their produce. The agency has established five centers for coordinating grain purchases, ensuring that all maize meets the recommended standards.
The NFRA’s efforts extend beyond the northern zone, with 72 purchasing points currently operating across eight regions, including Dodoma, Dar es Salaam, Njombe, Songwe, Rukwa, Arusha, Shinyanga, and Songea.
The agency’s grain procurement strategy includes direct purchases from farmers, bulk purchases from large-scale traders delivering quantities of 2,000 tonnes or more, and acquisitions from cooperative societies where farmers aggregate their produce.
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