NFRA Set To Sell Over 33,400 Tonnes Of Maize Grains To WFP
By Senior Reporter VALENTINE OFORO
THE National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) has entered into constructive contract to sell at least 33,435 tonnes of maize grains to the World Food Programme (WFP).
The tonnages, as per the plans will be sourced from the 2023/24 maize reserve at the NFRA’s Makambaku Zone in Njombe region.
Speaking to this publication during an exclusive interview, NFRA Makambaku Zone Manager, Revocatus Bisama said process were in good shape in readiness to facilitate the contract.
He informed, the zone which is designated to serve for the two regions of Njombe and Iringa was currently busy buying the cereal grains from the farmers, basically maize and paddy.
“In the currently season, the Makambaku zone is expecting to buy a total of 66,000 tonnes of maize, as well as 25,000 tonnes of paddy, making a total tonnes of 91,000 tonnes,” he said.
He briefed, the crops buying season in the zone commenced since 10th July, 2024, whereby the ongoing exercise has already witnessed a total of 12, 552.805 tonnes of maize grains, and 605,092 of paddy purchased from the farmers as of 23th August 2024.
” The purchased maize grains is equal to 19 percent of the maize tonnages we intend to buy in this season, and 2.4 percent of paddy, bringing the overall buying tonnages percentage to 14.46 ” he said.
To facilitate smooth flow in the exercise to purchase the two cereal crops from the farmers , he said the zone has managed to open ten different buying points, including eight for buying maize grains, and two for paddy.
He mentioned the eight points established for the purchase of maize grains in the zone as Makambaku, Igula, Igwachanya, Ludewa, Amani, Shaurimoyo, Mlangali and Isimani.
“The two centers that we have incepted to deal with procurement of paddy from farmers are Uturo and Madibira in Mbarali district,” he mentioned.
He added, the zone has store capacity to reserve a total of 22,000 tonnes, but project is currently taking shape to heighten the zone’s total storage capacity to 40,000 tonnes.
Dwelling over some of the challenges, Bisama said the zone need to increase number of warehouses and silos in order reach the set target of buying and reserving a total of 91,000 tonnes at a go.
However, to curtail the challenge, he said NFRA in the zone is renting warehouses from the private sector.
Ensuring the zone collects the needed first grade maize grains, he said several initiatives are being executed in collaboration with the local government authorities, seeking to empower the farmers how best to produce the maize which meet the set standards.
The standards, according to him include moisture contents of 13.5 percent, foreign matter of 0.5 percent, pest damage grains (1.0pc), rotten and disease grains (2.8pc), other colour grains (0.5pc), broken grains (2.0pc), immatured grains (1.0pc), discoloured grains (0.5pc), total defective grains (3.2pc), and inorganic matter at least 0.25 percent.
About The Author
