Regulations in the pulses sector faces a hit

TANZANIA: THE month of October 2024 stands to end in glory as far pulses sub sector is concerned.

This is after the Court of Tanzania, based in Manyara Region, imposed an injunction on Warehouse Receipt System (WRS) in that region even as hearing on the case is underway, thanks to unyielding Babati based traders, and others, who brought the case before the jury.

The decision has brought euphoria to many players in the value chain following many people’s claims that branded it as yoke in many people’s shoulders as opposed to earlier stated intentions – by the Ministry in question – as a system that came to redeem the small-scale farmer from the scavengers in the name of middlemen and unscrupulous traders.

This shows that while a few took the matter to court, many people, including farmers were direct beneficiaries. Just a few weeks ago I wrote about a strike by farmers, traders and other stakeholders in Katesh town, Manyara Region.

They were all complaining about WRS that instead of helping them it turned out to be a mighty scourge. Here is a brief account of what transpired then: “On 26th September 2024, ITV broadcasted another similar even that occurred on Katesh town, Hanang District, Manyara Region, in which citizens, mostly farmers, imposed a blockade on the Singida – Arusha highway while chanting “We need justice! We need justice!”

A select of farmers managed to be interviewed and clearly communicated what really transpired; One unidentified farmer had this to say: “For an entire month I farmed my chickpeas, stayed in the warehouse (union warehouse), today is about a month and 700 kilogrammes are in the warehouse.

I have loans how am I servicing them? It’s an entire month, brother, my money is not paid and I am not allowed to sell anywhere else, what is a problem?

Why are we persecuted? We farm on own, but they are the ones to sell our crops, why don’t they pay our money? What have we wronged the government?

Our kids are suffering, we farmers are suffering and we are persecuted. It pains me so much.

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I have sent goods to Endasaki warehouse it’s about a month now, brother, my chickpeas money is not paid yet. I am a very small farmer. My crops are in the store and am told there is no money.

If I tell them to sell to other places trucks are being blocked, what do I do, brother?” Mr Tito Mollel, a farmer, also had this to say: “We are being persecuted a great deal. We produce, we fumigate, but there is no government that comes saying let me help you fumigating the crops. I am the farmer, a day before yesterday a truck full of 23 tonnes and 950 kilos was taken, it is in the warehouse and this is the receipt.

I have not been paid to date, I am suffering, I have a bank loan and how am I servicing it? I do farm, I am educating kids, I am told just go you will be paid, you are told within 48 hours, but those 48 hours have passed already.” Mr Zephania Silas, a farmer, had this to say; “I am a smallholder farmer, we are being persecuted. We send pigeon peas to the warehouse and told payments will be made in 48 hours but it is not 48 hours it goes up to two weeks. You will find some are paid while other not, but I was advising that the government should leave the crop free, traders should be free.

So that if somebody is owing a school will sell to a trader who pays cash, not sending them to the warehouse, made to wait before being told to wait 48 hours and stay two weeks, it’s like we are mistreated. I want a government to look on us, they should not dictate a price on us, let traders compete on the price.” Miss Assenga, a farmer and trader, from Kilimanjaro had this to say: “I came to Katesh to buy maize and I found farmers selling pigeon peas I didn’t understand any regulation. I bought 51 tonnes of pigeon peas valued at 84m/-.

While loading it, I didn’t understand anything, there came people blocking that truck, they ordered it to be sent to the warehouse and told me, if I want to bring the cargo the warehouse I need a permit from the warehouse. After arguments, I found them to be worthless because they are the ones with authority.

After sending it to the warehouse was fined 1.7m/- which I came with the next day only to be told that I should add another 1.0m/-. I asked for what crime do I pay the fine? Why wasn’t I informed of the forbidden crops when I was paying for a license?

They told me, mama, these are our laws.

I asked them if those are the laws why didn’t you put road sign posts as one enters Hanang so that trucks won’t load consignments of this type?”. Now that trucks, full of pigeon peas and chickpeas, are freely moving out of the region lessons must be drawn from these serous issues so that the nation doesn’t repeat same mistakes.