Mega food storage plans underway in Tanzania
Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan has directed the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) to increase its grain storage capacity to three million tonnes by 2030.
This directive came after she reviewed the new silos and warehouses under construction in Mpanda Municipality, Katavi Region, which aims at increasing storage capacity from 5,000 tonnes to 28,000 tonnes.
“This project, worth 14 billion Tanzanian shillings (approx. $6 million USD), will help the country deal with food insecurity and reduce post-harvest loss. The modern silos have significantly increased the grains storage capacity from 5,000 tonnes to 28,000 tonnes,” President Hassan was quoted.
She further instructed that Katavi Region should be made an independent zone specifically for buying and storage of grains.
According to her, it is important that farmers are provided with fair prices during the grain purchasing season, stressing the government's commitment to upgrading the agricultural sector from subsistence to commercial farming.
President Hassan also directed the regional government to cooperate with the NFRA to find more locations for expanding food storage projects, aiming to make Katavi a key area for food storage.
She pointed out the substantial increase in the Agriculture Ministry's budget over the last three years—from 460 billion shillings in the 2020/21 financial year to 1.248 trillion shillings this fiscal year.
These funds according to the president, must be allocated to building irrigation systems, promoting extension services, purchasing fertilizers, and constructing additional food storage facilities.
