MTWARA Regional Commissioner, Colonel Ahmed Abbas has directed Cashewnut Board of Tanzania (CBT), agricultural and marketing cooperative unions, cooperative societies and other players to ensure government’s subsidized inputs are directly destined to farmers’ physical locations once delivered into the region.
The RC made the directives here mid this week, when he paid a visit at Mtwara Port to witness Sea Ruby Vessel unloading 3,680 out of 49,000 tonnes of sulphur powder purchased by the government to support farmers in production of the cashew crop.
“The government has purchased the inputs ahead of the farming season so that they (inputs) can be distributed to farmers on time,” he said, noting that the move will enable the farmers ensure earlier application of the inputs into the crop to prevent decline in production.
He said the inputs should not be moved and kept into warehouses, a move he said could cause unnecessary delay in the course of supplying them to farmers.
He also warned against hoarding the farm inputs, saying the regional authority is strictly monitoring the distribution process to ensure the inputs reach the required beneficiaries.
CBT Director General Francis Alfred said 10,180 tonnes of sulphur powder, 1.3 million litres of liquid pesticides, 5,000 motorised sprayers and 396 cashew packaging bags have arrived in the region.
He said the inputs have been delivered to main warehouses in Lindi, Mtwara and Coast regions before being distributed directly to farmers’ physical locations.
“The inputs delivered into the region are directly taken to farmers physically locations, the process is being conducted through main warehouse in Lindi Mtwara and Coast Region,” he said.
The inputs, according to Mr Alfred, are being destined for farmers who have been registered in the Farmers Registration Systems (FRS) and issued special numbers for obtaining the inputs.
He said some farmers registered in the special system have been supplied with the subsidised inputs.
Meanwhile, Mr Alfred said his office (CBT) is well organised to ensure effective distribution of the inputs to benefit the farmers as intended by the government.
He said the government has procured and purchased 49,000 tonnes of Sulphur powder, 1.3 milion litres pesticides and cashew packaging bags.
