Magufuli orders agency to meet WFP maize order

Dar es Salaam. President John Magufuli has directed the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) to sell 45,000 tonnes of maize to World Food Programme (WFP).

Initially the WFP had requested to purchase 45,000 tonnes but NFRA agreed to provide only 36,000 tonnes. But speaking during a ceremony to sign an agreement between NFRA and WFP, the President directed the former to sell as per the initial order.

“We currently have sufficient food, so, I don’t see any reason why you can’t sell as per WFP’s initial order. If you sell it now, it means that you will be increasing your purchasing power, which is good for farmers,” said the President, also revealing that NFRA had a reserve of 250,000 tonnes of mazie. NFRA and WFP inked an agreement, which will see the latter purchase 36,000 metric tonnes of maize worth Sh21 billion.

According to President Magufuli the deal will motivate smallholder farmers, through providing them a market for their produce and good prices.

The WFP provides relief food assistance to populations affected by drought, floods and other disasters, which the President said (although he does not want to see them happening) offer a great opportunity for the country. “It is our responsibility to ensure that all the allocated funds to help refugees in various countries come to our country, that we find a reciprocal process to also benefit from problems,” he commented.

He added, “Not that I like to see people in other countries fighting. No, but I want us to benefit from opportunities that are created”.

The President also addressed officials from TRA, TRL, TPA, Tanroads, and security forces who attended the signing ceremony to do away with unnecessary bureaucracy and cooperate with WFP because the business opportunity is beneficial to the country’s economy.

“Sometimes our actions hinder our development, this is a serious business to help our economy since about 70 per cent of our people are farmers,” he said.

For his part, WFP Country Representative Michael Dunford said there was potential for the UN agency to increase stocks from Tanzania because of its geographical location bordering more than eight countries where the programme operates.

He said apart from feeding refugees that the country hosts, WFP also supports initiatives that encourage innovations in the country. Mr Dunford said, “one of the most exciting areas that we are working on at the moment is the support through the Ministry for Agriculture and some of other ministries to strengthen and enhance the role of smallholder farmers in this country”.

The deputy minister for Agriculture, Mr Innocent Bashungwa, said the deal will create good market access to smallholder farmers, while supporting them to address post-harvest losses. “WFP is a major buyer of staple food and we will make sure we create a conducive environment for business with them for this cooperation to continue and help the 65 per cent of our population who are farmers,” he said.

According to the deputy minister, last year the NFRA sold 31,000 tonnes of maize worth Sh18 billion to the World Food Programme for its initiatives.