Posted on October, 1, 2024 at 09:06 am
PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan yesterday announced new payment system for farmers aimed at addressing their concerns over delayed payments for their produce.
Speaking at a public rally at Majimaji Stadium in Songea, the Head of State directed the Ministry of Agriculture to implement a new payment system beginning next farming season where the cooperative unions will pay farmers directly without involving Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Society (AMCOS).
“AMCOS has been blamed for payment delays and unexplained deductions, therefore this new system will now be used,” President Samia emphatically stated.
According to the current report by the Tanzania Cooperative Development Commission (TCDC), as of April 2024, Tanzania Mainland had 7,522 cooperative unions involved in diverse economic activities serving 8,358,325 active members.
Along with subsidies for fertilisers and seeds, President Samia outlined the government plans to establish agricultural inputs centres, starting with food basket regions, including Ruvuma Region.
These centres, she said, will provide essential agricultural tools and services at subsidised prices. “The goal is to increase agricultural productivity, reduce farming costs and boost Tanzania’s agricultural exports,” she said.
During her tour of Ruvuma Region, which began on September 23, covering five districts—Songea, Mbinga, Nyasa, Tunduru and Namtumbo—President Samia also highlighted progress in the cashew and coffee sectors.
President Samia further said the government continues to use the warehouse receipt system for crops like sesame, pigeon peas and soybeans. “I insist on the use of the warehouse receipt system and Tanzania Mercantile Exchange (TMX) as the direction we have already taken as a nation in agricultural trade,” she said.
She added: “This system will benefit farmers by ensuring they profit from their hard work. Our goal is also to obtain accurate agricultural statistics for our nation so that we can present them internationally and gain a clearer picture of trade balances within the country.”
She said the government is strengthening NFRA’s capacity to become a reliable market for grain crops and ensure food security in the country, adding that the government will continue to enhance cooperation systems and closely monitor contract farming for various crops nationwide.
Cashew production, she said, has risen from 15,000 tonnes in 2021/2022 to 29,109 tonnes in the 2023/2024 season, with projections to reach 55,730 tonnes next year. The increase is largely attributed to government subsidies for sulphur and insecticides valued at 46.8bn/-.
She said coffee production has similarly seen a boost, growing from 21,432 tonnes in 2019/2020 to 23,714 tonnes in the 2023/2024 season.
President Samia further said the government’s commitment is to distribute 20 million high-quality coffee seedlings to farmers, along with efforts to enhance marketing systems to increase global competitiveness.
“We are investing in irrigation farming with the goal that by 2030, 50 per cent of Tanzania’s agriculture will be under irrigation,” President Samia said.
Ruvuma Region, a key food-producing region, currently has 33 irrigation projects under construction, rehabilitation and planning.
In strengthening good governance, she said the government is making efforts to create an environment conducive to serving citizens in the decentralisation of power.
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“Among the projects I launched is the Mbinga District Council office building, valued at 3.5bn/-. Our expectation is that this council will enhance the provision of services to the citizens of Mbinga DC,” she said.
During her tour, among other things, she launched Tunduru Mineral Market, inspected maize purchasing activities at NFRA centres and laid the foundation stone for a grain storage warehouse at Ruhimba, one of 28 warehouses being built in the region.
Minister of State in the President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PORALG), Mohamed Mchengerwa said in the past three years the government has invested 6tril/- in various sectors through PORALG.
“President Samia administration has made significant progress in the health sector, including the construction of new hospitals, health centres and the provision of ambulances.
“In education, she has overseen the construction of hundreds of primary and secondary schools and teachers’ houses, with free education now accessible nationwide,” he said.
Ruvuma Regional Commissioner, Colonel Ahmed Ahmed expressed gratitude for President Samia’s leadership and the significant development projects initiated in the region.
He assured the President that they would adhere to her 4R’s philosophy (Reconciliation, Resilience, Reforms and Rebuilding) in the upcoming local elections.
Source: Daily News