Receipt system boosts lentils sales in Geita

GEITA: THE introduction of the Warehouse Receipt System (WRS) in Geita has significantly boosted lentil sales, enabling farmers to access better market prices, secure financing against stored produce and improve overall income stability, while strengthening the local agricultural supply chain.

Over the past two years, the system in Geita Region has facilitated the sale of 3,000.95 tonnes of lentils worth 3.0bn/- through 16 auctions, highlighting its role in improving market access, enhancing price transparency and enabling farmers to leverage stored produce for financing and income stability.

Launched in December 2023, the WRS in region began with the lentil crop, particularly in Nyang’hwale and Mbogwe districts, providing farmers with structured market access, opportunities for better pricing and a mechanism to use stored produce as collateral for financing, thereby strengthening agricultural value chains in the region.

Acting Regional Administrative Secretary of Geita, Dr Elfas Msenya spoke of the good development during a regional agricultural development stakeholders’ meeting in Geita Municipality, highlighting the government’s efforts to strengthen market access, promote agricultural commercialisation and support farmer incomes through initiatives like the WRS.

Dr Msenya noted that the development underscores the impact of the WRS, which has stimulated lentil production in the region by over 82 per cent, demonstrating how improved market access and financing mechanisms can drive agricultural productivity and farmer incomes.

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He explained that prior to the introduction of the WRS in the 2023/2024 season, Geita Region produced just 520 tonnes of lentils, but by the 2024/2025 season, production surged to 3,004.9 tonnes, highlighting how structured market access and financing incentives can dramatically boost agricultural output.

He noted that the current production represents a 2,484.9-tonne increase, all sold through auctions under the WRS, underscoring the system’s effectiveness in enhancing market access and farmer incomes.

He added that the region aims to replicate this success across other key crops green grams, pigeon peas, sunflower, and rice by channeling them through the WRS, signalling a broader strategy to strengthen agricultural commercialisation and value chains.

He highlighted that the WRS is coordinated by the Warehouse Receipts Regulatory Board (WRRB) in partnership with the Tanzania Mercantile Exchange (TMX), reflecting a structured institutional framework that ensures transparent auctions, market efficiency and reliable price discovery for farmers.

He further explained that the system is overseen by COPRA, the Warehouse Registration and Regulatory Board (WRB), and the Tanzania Cooperative Development Commission (TCDC), highlighting a multiagency governance structure designed to ensure regulatory compliance, quality control and coordinated support for farmers participating in the Warehouse Receipt System.

WRRB Chief Executive Officer Mr Asangye Nicholas stated that the government’s investment in the Warehouse Receipt System is intended to create competitive market opportunities for crops, ensuring farmers can access fair prices and strengthening the overall efficiency and transparency of agricultural markets.

Director of Crop Development and Standards at COPRA, Pendo Bigambo explained that the authority has developed comprehensive guidelines to promote quality grain production, reinforcing market reliability, protecting buyer and farmer interests, and enhancing confidence in the Warehouse Receipt System.

Meanwhile, Geita Regional Commissioner, Martine Shigela urged institutions, through extension, agricultural and cooperative officers, to intensify education on the Warehouse Receipt System, emphasising that sustained farmer awareness and training are crucial to maximising the system’s impact on production, market access and income growth.