Monday 3 February 2014

Govt to build cereal market in Mwanza

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The government is planning to build an international market for cereal products in Mwanza Region as part of its initiatives to create reliable market for grains in the country.

The statement follows concerns raised by some farmers and traders in the country who cannot find market for their surplus produce, forcing some of them to use the grains especially maize for brewing.

During an exclusive interview with this paper in Dar es Salaam recently, Cereals and other Produce Board (CPB) Acting Director General, Elimpaa Kiranga said the market project will be accomplished under a joint venture between CPB, Mwanza City council and Tanzania Investment Bank (TIB).

“Through the project, Mwanza Region will become a hub of grain market in all East African countries as the market is designed to save the whole East and Central African region…furthermore, we are going to make sure that grain farmers and traders get reliable market for their produce and end all these complaints,” he promised.

According to him, currently the project’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is being reviewed by the government’s lawyers while the preparation for the project’s concept paper proceeds.

“However, we are not sure of when the project will commence  especially the construction of the market… even the cost of the project will be known after the completion of the feasibility study which will start soon after the project’s concept paper is handled,” he said.

Speaking to this paper recently, some of the farmers and traders urged the government to make extra efforts in finding markets for their crops so that they can raise money needed for the next cultivation season.

Meanwhile, Kiranga said his Board is planning on starting with purchasing maize and rice after the approval of the 2014/15 national budget mid this year.

“We are going to purchase the crops under the instruction given by the minister responsible for agriculture through the government gazette… this means the minister will be the one to choose the type of crops to be purchased in relation to the need of doing so,” he explained.

According to him, his Board has already entrusted the assets of the former Tanzania's National Milling Corporation including Silos for restoring grains in some regions including Iringa, Dodoma, Mwanza while the process of entrusting Arusha assets is in progress.

“We are going to cooperate with private sector in doing our business especially in terms of transport and even our purchasing price will not differ with that of the private sector since our aim is not to kill the private sector but to create free and fair completion while protecting interest of the farmers,” he said.

Kiranga said that CPB was created under the Cereals and Other Produce Act Number 19 of 2009, its main function is to carry out commercial and other activities that would facilitate development of the cereals and other produce industry.
 
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