News in Brief:
– Tanzania expects a bumper maize harvest this year and aims to establish itself as a regional food producer.
– It has signed a deal to export 500,000 tonnes of maize to the Democratic Republic of Congo, which faces a cereal shortage.
Tanzania is gearing up for a significant maize surplus and has struck a deal to export 500,000 tonnes of the grain to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The country’s authorities anticipate a bumper harvest exceeding domestic needs and project themselves as a regional food production hub, a report said.
The Ministry of Agriculture predicts a maize harvest of more than 10 million tonnes in 2024, significantly higher than last year’s of about 8.1 million tonnes.
To manage this surplus and capitalise on export opportunities, the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) will begin purchasing maize and other food crops from farmers in July.
Additionally, the agency aims to create a sustainable food supply for domestic consumption while meeting export demands.
Meantime, Agriculture Minister Hussein Bashe emphasised Tanzania’s goal of becoming a leading food producer in Africa.
The maize export deal with the DRC is seen by analysts as a strategic step towards achieving this goal. The DRC, despite having favourable agricultural conditions, heavily relies on external imports to meet its cereal needs.
Tanzania’s surplus production presents a valuable opportunity to address food security concerns in the region.
