Why farmers are turning down NFRA’s Sh450 maize benchmark
Maize farmers in Tanzania are rejecting the National Food Reserve Agency's (NFRA) buying price of Sh450 per kilogramme, arguing it does not cover production costs. While the NFRA is attempting to negotiate, farmers in several regions remain resistant, citing higher expenses for fertilizers and seeds.
Why it matters
This highlights the economic struggle of smallholder farmers and the challenges of government-led food security and pricing programs in developing economies.
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) has begun talks with maize farmers to secure grain for its purchasing programme.
Still, growers are rejecting its Sh450 per kilogramme buying price, saying it is too low.
The resistance comes despite private traders offering between Sh250 and Sh300 per kilogramme in producing areas.
In Kiteto and Songea, maize prices have fallen to as low as Sh32,000 per sack, while prices in Songwe, Katavi, Rukwa, Dodoma and Arusha remain below Sh45,000.
In Songwe, farmer Agnes Mwashiuya said selling a sack for Sh36,000 to Sh38,000 represented a loss, considering incurred production costs including basal fertiliser costs of Sh95,000, top-dressing fertiliser Sh80,000 and improved seed up to Sh100,000.
Speaking to The Citizen over the weekend, NFRA chief executive officer (CEO), Dr Andrew Komba, acknowledged resistance in some rural areas.
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