IT is all smiles for cassava farmers and business operators in the country as government recently signed dried cassava export contract with the Chinese government. The contract, as of yesterday, saw 74 tonnes of dried cassava being exported to China through the Qingdao Port in Shandong constituency, Prime Minister, Kassim Majaliwa told the Parliament, yesterday.

In his speech to wrap-up the three-month budget session, the Premier said the contract opens a new chapter and set history by making cassava one of the cash crops. “The contract was signed in May, this year, between the government and our Chinese counterpart for export of dried cassava from Tanzania which is a business opportunity we must use aggressively,” he underscored.
However, he said, the amount exported is small compared to the China market demand which is more than 150,000 tonnes a year. He used the occasion to call upon Tanzanians to fully tap the opportunity by venturing into cassava farming as it has great avenues for increased productivity and their welfare as well.
Mr Majaliwa also directed the agriculture research institutes to see how they can come up with the best seeds that will yield bumper harvests of cassava. The Premier also called upon authorities with special focus on extension officers to offer farmers the latest farming methods for increased production, so that the country furnishes the Chinese market with the needed supply.
“We also welcome investors to set up cassava processing factories as it is now clear that one can produce a lot of products from cassava apart from the traditional use for food,” said Mr Majaliwa.
He added that the government is having a special strategy to add the value chain to other crops as well as looking for readymade market for sesame, sunflower, sisal, grapes and palm. He said the warehouse receipt programme has paid well in most parts of the country, thus urged farmers to keep on joining cooperatives for the best prices of their crops.
He gave an example of sesame, whereas through the warehouse receipt the crop was sold at 2,800/- per kilogramme from 1,500/- and the system ensures safe storage of the crop, ready for auctioning during peak season for the best prices.
The Premier said the Agricultural Sector Development Programme (ASDP II) will as well put special focus on five major cash crops: cotton, cashew nut, coffee, tea and tobacco as well as revamp cooperatives so that they can manage the marketing and good prices.