Pigeon pea output projected to reach 400,000 tonnes

DODOMA: PIGEON pea production is projected to reach 400,000 tonnes this season, a sharp increase from only 90,000 tonnes recorded four years ago, following the introduction of formalised trade systems and access to new lucrative international markets.

Presenting the 2024/2025 performance report of the sub-sector during the Cashew Stakeholders Meeting in Dodoma, the Director General of the Cereals and Other Produce Regulatory Authority (COPRA), Ms Irene Mlola, said last season’s harvest reached 307,000 tonnes, securing Tanzania’s position as the world’s second-largest producer after India.

She attributed the remarkable growth to deliberate government interventions, especially the success of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s economic diplomacy, which has opened new international markets for farmers’ produce.

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Ms Mlola cited President Samia’s visit to India as a turning point, noting that the bilateral discussions enabled Tanzanian pigeon peas to enter the Indian market dutyfree, thereby increasing the crop’s competitiveness and motivating farmers to expand production.

She also highlighted the role of the warehouse receipt system and digital auction platforms, which have connected farmers directly to buyers, enhanced transparency and ensured local farmgate prices closely mirror international market trends.

“The price gap has now narrowed to less than 25 per cent. For instance, in the 2022/23 season, farmers sold pigeon peas for between 200/- and 500/- per kilogramme while in India the price exceeded 2,200/-. Currently, Tanzanian farmers are earning more than 66 per cent of the world market price,” Ms Mlola explained.