Tanzania’s agriculture minister has warned fertilizer speculators defying the government’s indicative price.
Speaking during the tour of the Southern Agriculture Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) in Iringa and Njombe Regions, Dr Charles Tizeba said wrongdoers will be dealt with.
He said farmers should be supplied DAP at a price not more than Sh56,000 and UREA at a price which does not exceed Sh48,000.
“We have decided to put these fertilizers in a bulk procurement system and we have put indicative prices so that dealers can adhere to government directives, we call upon district commissioners and all government leaders to play a supervisory role in making sure those indicative prices are observed,” he said.
He told the leaders of Njombe Outgrowers Service Company (NOSC) there will be no excuse in implementing the directive.
“This decision was not abrupt, we discussed with all the stakeholders and reached a consensus,” said Dr. Tizeba.
Arnold Ngolle, Chairperson of Small Growers of Tea (ITOA) said skyrocketing price of fertilizers has always frustrated the farmers.
“The decrease of price will stimulate production,” he said, noting that incomes originating from tea farming will go up.
