| Report:Grain reserve down | Send to a friend |
| Tuesday, 09 March 2010 10:41 |
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The National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) had a stock of 77,644 tonnes in December 2009. According to the Bank of Tanzania’s economic review for January, the amount was 10.3 per cent lower than November 2009. The report indicated that the December 2009 level was 39.2 per cent less than the food reserve of December 2008. It attributed the decline in the stock on account of sale of grains to the government and private traders for distribution to areas facing food shortages. Between July and December 2009, NFRA purchased 68,396 tonnes of maize and sorghum — 42.7 per cent of the target. However, 84,340 tonnes were sold during the period The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives reported that about two million people in more than 60 districts faced serious food shortages between November and January. Such areas had a food deficit of 56,746 tonnes, and the government provided 37,051 tonnes either for acquisition free of charge or for sale at subsidised prices. According to BoT, wholesale prices for major food crops were higher at the end of last year than in December 2008. The average price of a 100-kilo bag of grains was Sh50,489 in December compared with Sh52,688 the previous month. But the December 2009 price was nearly 21 per cent higher than the December 2008 price. A 100-kilo bag of maize was sold at Sh43,866 in December than Sh40,886 the previous month. The December 2009 maize price was also higher than Sh34,694 of December 2008. The price of rice rose from Sh103,333 to Sh106,359 between November and December 2009. But it was lower than the December 2008 price of Sh107,363. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites           |
