COPRA system drives transparency, compliance

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Cereals and Other Produce Regulatory Authority (COPRA) has stressed the crucial role of its system in enhancing transparency and efficiency to strengthen adherence to established regulations within the crop trade industry.

The COPRA Director General, Ms Irene Mlola, said the COPRA system was specifically developed to facilitate the coordination and monitoring of the trade in cereals and mixed crops.

“Traders must understand that COPRA supports them. This system helps us monitor market trends, identify challenges and develop strategies to improve the agricultural trading environment,” she said.

The system supports key functions such as the issuance of export permits, access to vital market information and real-time tracking of consignments. The system supports key functions such as the issuance of export permits, access to vital market information and real-time tracking of consignments.

System transparency and efficiency are vital for fostering trust among stakeholders in the crop trade industry, ensuring that all transactions and processes are clear and accountable.

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By enhancing transparency, the system helps prevent fraud, corruption and illegal practices, while efficiency reduces delays and operational costs, facilitating smoother trade flows.

Together, these factors promote compliance with regulations, protect the interests of farmers, traders and consumers and contribute to a stable and well-regulated market that supports food security and economic growth.

She added that the system also plays a significant role in strengthening national data related to crop production and exports information that is vital for the government and stakeholders in the agricultural sector when formulating policies and strategies to grow the industry.

Ms Mlola also issued a call to traders intending to export agricultural produce, urging them to strictly follow the formal registration procedures via the COPRA electronic system before initiating the export process.

She noted that doing so not only ensures legal compliance, but also helps traders avoid unnecessary delays at border points or ports.

“When you want to export crops outside the country, use the official COPRA system, which is easily accessible and allows you to obtain your permits quickly,” she said.

Furthermore, Ms Mlola advised that traders dealing in legume crops such as black beans, chickpeas, pigeon peas, green grams, soybeans, lentils, and cowpeas must register their consignments through the COPRA system in order to streamline operations and build trust in international markets.

She noted that the authority continues to provide public education to raise awareness about its services, responsibilities, and the importance of complying with formal procedures in the trade of cereals and mixed crops aiming to ensure that farmers benefit fully from their harvests.

According to Ms Mlola, the authority is committed to close collaboration with traders, farmers and government institutions to ensure the system benefits all stakeholders and contributes meaningfully to the national economy.

“We are conducting outreach programmes across the regions to educate farmers so they can benefit directly from what they grow and avoid middlemen who purchase at low prices and resell at higher margins. “Our goal is to connect farmers directly with the final consumer, while also bringing together stakeholders from various sectors to discuss ways to strengthen the crop trade both locally and internationally,” she added.

COPRA is a body mandated to regulate the production, processing, and marketing of cereals and other produce; to provide for national food security assurance mechanisms; and to address other related matters in mainland Tanzania.