News in Brief:
– The Tanzania agriculture minister has demanded that the World Food Programme (WFP) purchase maize directly from local farmers at the government-set price or cease operations in the country.
– WFP agents have been accused of violating agreements by buying produce at lower prices and private buyers for exploiting farmers.
Tanzanian Agriculture Minister Hussein Bashe has issued an ultimatum to the World Food Programme (WFP), demanding they either buy maize directly from Tanzanian farmers at the government-set price of 700 shillings per kilogram or close down their procurement centers.
Addressing WFP agents at the Kizuka Maize Purchasing Center recently, Bashe warned that they were in violation of a government agreement by buying maize for less than 500 shillings per kilogram.
The minister, who described the situation as ‘unacceptable’, observed that private buyers were contributing to rural poverty by purchasing maize from farmers at prices well below the government-set rate. These buyers then resell the maize to the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) at a gain of 250 shillings per kilogram, profiting from the farmers’ hardship.
Farmers face delays and exploitation
Reportedly, the process of selling maize has been slow and frustrating for farmers, with many spending weeks preparing their crops to meet quality standards. Minister Bashe has advised farmers to exercise patience and resist the temptation to sell their maize to private buyers, who often pay less but offtake quickly.
It is noteworthy that in June 2024, the Tanzanian government announced a major initiative to support local farmers. Starting in July, the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) began purchasing crops from farmers at designated centers.
WFP’s ongoing partnership with Tanzania
While the United Nation’s food assistance agency has yet to issue an official position on the matter, it had noted its commitment to working with the government to bolster food security and nutrition efforts as well as improve market access for farmers.
The WFP speaking through the country’s representative, Ms. Sarah Gordon-Gibson, early in July, said the history of the partnership between the body and the Tanzanian government started since 2009.
She noted that since 2011, it has been a significant purchaser of grains from the NFRA and the country’s Central Purchasing Bureau (CPB).
Additionally, between 2011 and 2023, WFP procured over 223,000 tons of white maize and nearly 4,000 tons of sorghum from NFRA, valued at over $60 million.
Gordon-Gibson also stated that the agency has leased NFRA warehouses in Dodoma since 2011, at a total cost of $213,000, in a bid to support its operations in Tanzania.
Between 2017 and May 2024, it purchased 54,000 tons of maize, beans, and sorghum from CPB, valued at $15 million. During this period, it also rented CPB warehouse facilities for USD 96,000 and collaborated on maize milling services in Dodoma and Iringa for USD 84,000.
Furthermore, in 2024, WFP plans to expand its purchases, acquiring 60,000 tons of white maize from NFRA and CPB for approximately $22 million.
