PM Majaliwa urges farmers to sell their produce through co-operatives

Dar es Salaam. Government has said all commercial crops will be sold through co-operative unions, urging traders to purchase crops from those entities rather than buying directly from the farmers.

Prime Minister Mr Kassim Majaliwa gave the order today, Saturday, April 21, when he addressed Dodoma residents at a televised ceremony to lay the foundation stone ahead of the construction of a modern food storage facility.

"All crops will now be sold through co-operatives to ensure that farmers benefit from the selling of their produce. As Coffee and Cotton seasons have started and we want to see that all crops are sold through co-operatives," he said.

He added “The co-operatives collapsed because of poor management. But I can now assure farmers that the government is fully determined to reestablish the unions and make sure they benefit the farmers. I therefore urge farmers to have trust in co-operatives," he noted.

"Farmers will also have access to agricultural inputs through the co-operatives established in their respective areas across the country. Again farmers will have opportunities to undergo training through unions on how they can increase their yields," he revealed.

The Agriculture Minister Dr Charles Tizeba also said the government will purchase food from farmers only through co-operatives. "The government through the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) will start purchasing food trough co-operatives rather than purchasing from traders," Dr Tizeba noted.