NFRA plans to sell one million tonnes of grains in 2025/2026

DAR ES SALAAM: THE National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) is planning to sell approximately one million tonnes of grains in the 2025/2026 financial year, targeting both local and foreign markets.

The agency announced to have secured several trade agreements to support this goal.

This initiative is designed to strengthen NFRA’s trade partnerships with various countries and enhance its internal capacity to manage surplus food supplies.

Speaking in Dar es Salaam over the weekend, NFRA Director General Dr Andrew Komba said that one of the agency’s core responsibilities is ensuring national food security.

By selling surplus food to countries in need, the agency not only boosts food security but also economically empowers farmers and generates revenue for the nation.

Over the past four years, NFRA has successfully sold around 600,000 tonnes of maize, millet, rice, beans and peas to markets in India and China.

Dr Komba credited these achievements to the bold decisions made by the government under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration, which has empowered the agency by increasing its purchasing power and improving storage facilities.

“Four years ago, NFRA had the capacity to sell only between 50,000 to 60,000 tonnes of grains,” Dr Komba said.

“However, after capacity building, efficiency improved and in the last two years, we were able to sell 600,000 tonnes as citizens practiced productive agriculture and produced higher-quality crops, especially in maize and rice.”

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Dr Komba also said that NFRA’s efforts to expand grain markets led to a contract to sell 650,000 tonnes to Zambia, half of which has already been delivered.

The contract is expected to conclude by May of this year. In addition, NFRA successfully sold 500,000 tonnes to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and 35,000 tonnes to the World Food Programme (WFP).

This has brought the total amount sold to an impressive 1,185,000 tonnes. Looking ahead, Dr Komba said that Mozambique has expressed interest in purchasing crops from NFRA, while Malawi has entered into an agreement to buy 50,000 tonnes, with 20,000 tonnes already signed for.

“These efforts are part of the President’s initiatives,” Dr Komba stated.

“In her four years of leadership, NFRA has expanded its market reach internationally, which has led to increased productivity and added value to our agricultural sector. By increasing the volume of surplus food sales, we are meeting international demand and benefiting farmers who supply us with food for both national reserves and export.”

Dr Komba said that it is NFRA’s responsibility to seek international markets for surplus food produced domestically, which, in turn, enhances agricultural productivity across the value chain.

He also encouraged Tanzanians to engage in modern and productive agriculture to meet the quality standards required by international markets, ensuring a reliable market for NFRA’s purchases.

Dr Komba reiterated that NFRA’s strategic initiatives aim to bolster national food security, empower local farmers and generate revenue through the export of surplus agricultural products.