FARMERS IN GAIRO DISTRICT CLAIM TTHEIR MONEY FROM MAIZE SALES TO THE NATIONAL FOOD RESERVE AGENCY [NFRA]

Shame on the government for delaying maize payments to farmers while it  always  claims  that farming is the backbone of the economy in this country!!!

 

 

By The Guardian Reporter, Tanzania.

8th January 2015

Gairo, Morogoro

 

More than 200 farmers in Gairo District, Morogoro Region are up in arms against National Food Reserve Agency which has yet pay them money for the maize they have sold to it.

 

The farmers have even threatened to take the law into their hands – break the maize warehouse and take back their maize – if their money is not paid in.

 

Speaking at different intervals with this paper, the farmers said they have sold 2,500 metric tonnes to NFRA but payment has become a difficult issue.

 

One of the farmers, Yahaya Wangiu, said they resolved that they get back their maize if NFRA has failed to pay them since the farmers are unable to fend their families.

 

“If the government has failed to pay us for the maize, let them open the warehouse so that we take our maize and sell to other sources,” noted Wangiu.

 

Another farmer, Rashid Malole, told this paper that the farmers are unable to pay school-fees for their children due to the delays in getting their money.

 

He said life has become tough especially at this time around as students cannot be tolerated without school-fees and other necessarily facilities.

 

“Imagine the new farming season has begun and we don’t have money to buy farm inputs. If the money continues to be delayed, it means we won’t manage to indulge in farming this year,” he said while noting that they cannot afford hiring tractors nor sending their children to school if the money is not paid.

 

Due to the said situation, the farmers recently decided to hold peaceful demonstrations up to the office of the District Commissioner, Hadija Kalamagi.

 

However, the farmers were welcomed by the District Administrative Secretary, who identified herself by one name Sevelini.

Sevelini asked the farmers to be patient and demanded them to put their complaints in writing.

 

“The District Commissioner is in another meeting but has directed me that you put your claims in writing and take them to him. But the information at hand is that you will be paid your money within this month,” she said.

 

She said the information about the payment is from deputy minister for Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperation.

However, the farmers did not say the date or month they delivered their maize.

 

During last harvest season, Tanzania recorded over 500 million metric tonnes of maize up from 350 million tonnes recorded last year, representing a 123 percent increase. 

 

Rice harvests also recorded at least 118 per cent increase in the same season.

 

“We have lot of surplus maize and rice which National Food Reserves Agency (NFRA) cannot afford buy,” Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives minister Christopher Chiza told The Guardian in exclusive interview recently.

 

“Our capacity is to buy 200,000 metric tonnes…but we are doing our best to ensure that we get a market for the maize and rice,” he said.

 

“ To start with, WFP has agreed to buy at least 200,000 tonnes from NFRA in phases…they will start with 60,000 tonnes and then purchase more thereafter,” he explained.

 

“We commissioned NFRA to buy 200,000 tonnes at 500/- per kilo. This is the best price so far and the galas that we have cannot accommodate more than this,” he added.

 

“WFP will buy maize from NFRA and hence create space for the agency to buy more maize from the farmers,” he went on to explain.

 

“In fact, we have given the go ahead to NFRA to borrow at least 20bn/- from CRDB bank for buying the grains,” the official noted.

 

As for Kenya buying maize and rice from Tanzania, he said Kenya also had good harvests but with time they might still need addition maize and rice. 

 

“We sealed a deal with South Sudan to allow our traders to sell maize and rice there,” Chiza said.

 

“Already 1000 tonnes have been sent partially as food relief and partially for sell,” he added.

 

“Also, our Embassy in Democratic Republic of Congo is discussing with the government there to allow our traders to sell there,” he said.

 

In mid August last year, the government appealed to individual traders and agencies to buy and export the surplus maize following bumper harvests of the grain experienced in the Southern Highland regions but to date, even the private sector has remained reluctant to purchase the surplus.

 

Karimu Mtambo, Director of Food at the Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives Ministry maintained that the government’s capacity to purchase the surplus maize was limited.

 

Elaborating, he said, that the authority has set maize purchase target for every region for each season and that if it happens, as is the case this season, that a particular region has harvested more than expected then the surplus is to be disposed of by other agencies and the private sector.

 

“We need to be assisted by individual traders or institutions to purchase the excess,” Mtambo insisted.

 

He said, in recognition of the dilemma, the government is assisting farmers search for markets to help them sell the surplus. 

“Farmers from these regions are informed on the availability of grain markets outside and the government has also lifted the ban on exports,” he said.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN