NFRA to double maize reserve in Sumbawanga
SUMBAWANGA : THE National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) Sumbawanga Zone Office has almost doubled the tonnes of maize to be purchased during this season from 27,000 to 50,000 tonnes during this purchasing season at the cost of some 4.5bn/-
NFRA Sumbawanga Zone Manager, Mr Marwa Range said initially the food agency targeted to purchase 27,000 tonnes of maize when the purchasing season started in June 2, this year, but until August 14, this year, the agency had purchased 28,000 tonnes of maize at the cost of 2.5bn/-.
“The tonnage of maize has been increased to 22,000 tonnes, which means during this maize purchasing season about 50,000 tonnes of maize will be purchased at a cost of 4.5bn/- ” he added.
The NFRA Sumbawanga Zone Office serves Rukwa and Katavi regions.
According to Mr Range, the food agency will purchase 40,000 tonnes of maize in Rukwa region and 10,000 tonnes in Katavi region.
He further explained that in Rukwa, a kilogramme of maize is sold at 900/- in urban and 800/- in rural areas, while in Katavi region a kilogramme of maize is sold at 950/- in Mpanda maize buying centre and 900/- at Kibaoni buying centre.
In the last season, the food reserve agency purchased a kilo of maize at 650/- in urban and 600/- in rural areas in both Rukwa and Katavi regions.
He said in Rukwa, the maize purchasing centres are Laela Township in Sumbawanga District Council and Sumbawanga Town in Sumbawanga Municipality.
The small purchasing centres are Mkombo, Mwimbi, Matai in Kalambo District and Namanyete in Nkasi District. The list also includes Mtowisa purchasing centre in Lake Rukwa Rift Valley Basin.
He went ahead to explain that in Katavi Region there are two main purchasing centres named Kibaoni in Mpimbwe Council and Mpanda town in Mpanda municipality.
According to Mr Rage, last season the food agency purchased 1,025 tonnes only in Rukwa Region due to poor harvest.
Adjourning the 11th session of the 12th National Assembly, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said the government through NFRA has set aside 320bn/- to buy grains in effort to maintain food security in the country.
The premier urged citizens at family level to spend their farm produce including maize and rice with caution to avoid hunger.
“I therefore direct the Minister of Agriculture to supervise procurement of grains produced on time and efficiently from the allocated money,” Mr Majaliwa said.
He said the government has been improving food storage infrastructure by prioritising warehouses and cold room constructions, to preserve both non-perishable and perishable food such as cereals as well as vegetables and fruits respectively.
