PM orders NFRA to expedite procedures for selling agricultural produce
DODOMA: PRIME Minister Mwigulu Nchemba has directed the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) to expedite procedures for selling agricultural produce whenever markets become available to avoid losing business opportunities due to lengthy processes.
He also urged relevant institutions to continue seeking reliable markets and facilitate the export of agricultural produce, noting that the government has increased the maize purchasing price through NFRA from 450/- to 500/- per kilogramme.
Dr Nchemba made the remarks in Parliament in Dodoma on November 5, 2026, during the Prime Minister’s question-and-answer session in the Eighth Sitting of the Fifth Meeting of the 13th Parliament.
He was responding to a question from Kongwa MP, Isaya Mngurumi Moses, who wanted to know the Government’s strategies for securing markets and improving crop prices to ensure farmers benefit from their production.
Dr Nchemba said whenever NFRA secures a market, it should complete the necessary sales procedures promptly, explaining that delays could cause potential buyers to source produce from other markets where transactions are processed more quickly.
He said the government has been using engagements with leaders of various countries to secure markets for Tanzanian agricultural produce and expand trading opportunities for farmers.
On maize prices, the Prime Minister said he had held several discussions with the ministry responsible for agriculture on ways to improve the purchasing price offered by NFRA.
He explained that the price had previously been increased from 200/- to 300/-, then to 450/-, and has now reached 500/- per kilogramme.
“We met again for the last time and agreed that if they could increase the price further, they should do so. We therefore agreed that it should now be raised to 500/-,” he said.
Dr Nchemba urged farmers with maize to sell to visit NFRA regional and zonal offices to benefit from the improved purchasing price.
