Wheat farmers support enhanced to spur output

DODOMA: THE government plans to distribute 700 tonnes of wheat seed to farmers under a subsidy programme in the 2026/27 financial year as part of efforts to increase domestic production and reduce reliance on costly imports.

Deputy Minister for Agriculture, David Silinde, told the National Assembly yesterday that the government also intends to establish specialised wheat seed production centres in large-scale farming schemes to ensure a steady supply of quality seed.

The initiatives form part of a broader strategy to raise national wheat output, reduce dependence on imports and ease pressure on foreign exchange reserves.

Mr Silinde was responding to a question from Asia Halamga (Hanang — CCM), who sought clarification on the government’s plans to increase wheat production and lower the country’s wheat import bill.

He said that during the 2025/26 financial year, the government continued implementing various interventions aimed at boosting wheat production, including the distribution of 500 tonnes of wheat seed in key growing areas and the provision of fertiliser subsidies to reduce production costs.

The deputy minister added that the government had entered into preliminary purchase agreements with local wheat processors to guarantee markets for farmers.

“Under these arrangements, processors will purchase all wheat produced locally, thereby assuring farmers of a reliable market for their produce,” he said.

Responding to a supplementary question, Mr Silinde said plans to deploy modern agricultural machinery in Hanang District form part of a five-year government programme designed to narrow the gap between domestic wheat production and national demand.

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“The programme has already been incorporated into the budget recently approved by National Assembly. It is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to reduce dependence on imported wheat,” he said.

In a separate development, Mr Silinde said the government has written to an investor who entered into an agreement with Mroso Sangi Cooperative Society in Hai District to construct an avocado processing factory but has yet to fulfil the contractual obligations.

He said the investor had committed to completing the project by 2025 but had failed to begin implementation.

“It is true that there was an agreement between the investor and the cooperative society to construct the factory. However, the investor has not fulfilled the terms of the contract,” Mr Silinde told the House.

“We have formally requested an explanation as to why the project has not been implemented and when construction will begin. If the investor fails to honour the agreement, the government will terminate the contract and seek another investor.”

His remarks followed concerns raised by Saashisha Mafuwe (Hai — CCM), who alleged that the investor had demolished cooperative-owned buildings without consultation while failing to proceed with the promised factory project.

The government has not disclosed the investor’s response to the inquiry.