MAIZE purchasing is expected to start next month, with the government asking farmers to work to ensure their crops meet the required quality standards,

David Silinde, the Agriculture deputy minister, made this affirmation in response to Ngara MP Ndaisaba Ruhoro, as to when the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) would start purchasing maize from farmers in his constituency.

Hinting at the need to keep moisture content of 13.5 percent, he said purchasing will start everywhere, cautioning farmers to adhere to quality guidelines to avoid complications during the buying process.

In a supplementary question, Kyerwa MP Innocent Bilakwate asked when the government would secure reliable markets for vanilla farmers, to which the deputy minister said Tanzanian embassies abroad are under instructions to seek out markets for horticultural and other crops.

Special Seats MP Mwantumu Zodo also raised concern about repeated promises to purchase maize in Handeni District, Tanga Region, which have not materialized, to which an assurance was issued that NFRA had conducted assessments in all designated procurement areas.

The government intends to fulfill this commitment in the upcoming financial year in all regions, he said, asserting that the government plans to purchase one million tonnes of maize.

Kilombero MP Abubakar Asenga inquired when NFRA would start purchasing sugar, citing low prices paid to farmers due to apparent market surplus, where the deputy minister said the Sugar Board Act now permits NFRA to purchase sugar for emergency reserves.

The regulations have already been prepared and that NFRA can now begin buying sugar from local producers, he stated.

Buchosa MP Erick Shigongo also questioned when maize purchases would begin in his constituency, where the response reiterated NFRA readiness after assessing all relevant areas.

This year will see actual implementation of the maize procurement plan, he added.