Posted on March, 27, 2025 at 04:30 pm
THE National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) has set a target of purchasing up to 1.1 million tonnes of grains during the 2025/2026 financial year.
The agency has also established the standards and criteria for purchasing grains to ensure a reliable market for crops. The grains to be procured include white maize, millet and rice, with the procurement process set to begin on May 1st, 2025.
According to an advertisement in yesterday’s Daily News, NFRA will provide clear procedures and guidelines to ensure a reliable market for businesses before the 2025/2026 purchasing season starts.
“The purchase will take place at NFRA warehouses in regions including Arusha (Arusha and Babati warehouses), Dodoma (Dodoma City, Mtanana and Manyoni), Dar es Salaam (Kipawa), Makambako, Songea, Shinyanga, Sumbawanga and Mpanda, as well as other centres to be opened by the Agency when the season begins,” the statement read.
The advertisement also mentioned that the agency will accept framework agreements for grain purchases from March 19th until April 30th, 2025.
This initiative aims to strengthen NFRA’s trade operations and enhance its capacity to manage surplus food supplies.
Additionally, the advert highlighted that businesses wishing to enter into an agreement with NFRA must meet specific criteria, including having a valid tax clearance certificate and the capacity to supply at least 2,000 tonnes of white maize, white millet and/or rice.
Traders must also submit an identification letter from the District Executive Director of their operating area.
Traders and farmers who do not meet the criteria for selling their grain at NFRA warehouses will still be able to sell their crops through the main NFRA warehouses or new purchasing centres to be opened by the agency, provided they have an agreement with NFRA.
“To expand the scope of procurement to 1.1 million tonnes and provide a reliable market for traders and farmers, NFRA has established a procedure for receiving applications to enter agreements ahead of the grain purchases. This process started on March 19th and will run until April 30th of this year.
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“A trader or farmer must own at least 100 acres of land in one location within a council or district and submit proof of the land’s location from the village government or local government council,” the advertisement stated.
Source: Daily News