Dar sells 201,800 tonnes of maize to kenya

THE government has agreed to sell to Kenya some 201,800
metric tonnes of maize, and the first batch of 50,000 tonnes
from the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) will be
released early next month.
Briefing journalists in Dar es Salaam on Friday at the end of
his two-day work visit to Nairobi where he had audience
with his Kenyan counterpart Mr Felix Kosgei, the Minister
for Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives, Eng.
Christopher Chiza said relevant authorities are expected to
sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Arusha
soon for implementation of the agreement.
"Last season (2013/14), Tanzania recorded 118 per cent
Self Sufficiency Ratio (SSR) after harvesting 5.3 million
tonnes of maize and 1.3 million tonnes of rice.
Information gathered from across the regions recently
indicates that this year as well, another bumper harvest will
be recorded possibly with much higher self sufficiency
ratio," Chiza explained.
He added that there was no reason to turn down the request
by a neighbour (Kenya) but the trade will be closely
monitored to make sure that local farmers benefit as well.
Mr Chiza indicated that members of the business
community he was accompanied were still in Nairobi to
work on some of the basic details. The first consignment of
maize from NFRA worth 31bn/-, the minister added, will be
delivered to Kenya by Tanzania's private sector in the near
future.
However, the minister does not play down chances for
illegal cross-border trade of grain but insisted that
authorities on both sides had agreed to work closely to
make sure that proper revenue collection procedures were
observed as efforts to establish a zonal market near Himo
area in Kilimanjaro region were underway.
It was revealed that maize from Tanzania has always been
of the acceptable quality and preferred in the East African
market. The storage capacity of NFRA is 240,000 metric
tonnes and plans are underway to expand the holding
capacity to 400,000 metric tonnes. For the first time, said
the minister, NFRA will buy 10,000 metric tonnes of rice
from the farmers.
The most preferred and aromatic types of rice are locally
known as sindano, tule na bwana, shingo ya mwali,
nikamate sawa among others. Farmers will be assisted to
secure proper markets.
Commenting on the need to strengthen the South-South
Cooperation initiative and expansion of the regional market,
Eng Chiza spoke about a brief meeting with the South Sudan
Ambassador to Kenya who wished to see establishment of
similar trade links to help offset famine in his country.
"The state of instability in South Sudan undermined
agricultural activities despite the fertile land and reasonable
rainfalls. People in this part of the world also need the
supply of grain.
In the long run Tanzania and Sudan will extend agro-
technical cooperation that includes training of Sudanese
extension officers in the country and perhaps deployment of
our officers (extension) to Sudan.
According to Kenyan authorities, the need to procure maize
from Tanzania was to lower the maize prices that have been
going up in the recent months. Maize flour is a staple food
for many Kenyans.