Food production increases by 6 per cent
By Mnaku Mbani
Production of food crops during 2015/16 season amounted to
16.1 million tonnes compared to 15.5 million tonnes in 2014/15 crop-season.
Cereals production was estimated at 9.4 million tonnes relative to 8.9 million
tonnes in 2014/15, while that of non-cereals was 6.7 million tonnes compared
with 6.6 million tonnes.
In effect, a net food supply situation considering the
national food requirement of 13.15 million tonnes (and 2015/16 food
production—16.1million tonnes) marks a surplus of 3.0 million tonnes and/or
self-sufficiency ratio of 123 percent.
According
to the August monthly economic review published by the central bank of Tanzania
(BOT) stock of food held by the National Food Reserve Agency as at the end of
August 2016 (NFRA) was 59,832 tonnes compared to 49,632 tonnes recorded at the
end of July 2016.
The
food stock comprised 58,223 tonnes of maize, 1,588 tonnes of paddy and 19.8
tonnes of sorghum. During the month, 9,498.8 tonnes of maize and 1,411.3 tonnes
of sorghum were sold, out of which 10,611.9 tonnes were sold to the private
traders.
Other
83.8 tonnes were sold to prisons and
213.8 tonnes were purchased by the
Disaster Relief Coordination Unit of the Prime Minister’s Office.
A total of 21,069 tonnes were purchased during the month.
Wholesale prices for all major food crops increased in July
2016 relative to the corresponding period in 2015 except for prices of rice and
beans. In comparison with the preceding month, the prices for all food crops
decreased except for maize and beans.
Maoni
Chapisha Maoni