SUMBAWANGA, Tanzania: Tanzania’s Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba has directed authorities regulating agricultural trade to introduce standardised measurements and enforce instant payments for farm produce in a move aimed at protecting farmers from unfair trading practices.
Nchemba said the Ministries overseeing crop trade should work with the Weights and Measures Agency and produce buyers to develop a roadmap ensuring crops are purchased using official measurements rather than traditional containers such as sacks and buckets.
“For a long time, farmers have been disadvantaged because produce is sold using sacks or buckets, which often results in inaccurate measurements and lower earnings,” he told residents while addressing a public meeting in Sumbawanga on Tuesday.
He said Tanzania should transition to a modern trading system based on standardised packaging and clearly defined quantities.
The prime minister spoke while launching an international market valued at 7.3 billion Tanzanian shillings (about $2.8 million), aimed at expanding market access for farmers in the southwestern region.
According to Nchemba, the traditional trading system allows manipulation that often leaves farmers receiving less money than the true value of their produce.
Markets such as the new facility in Rukwa are expected to help farmers sell crops including maize, rice and onions at competitive prices while promoting commercial agriculture, he said.
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Push for instant payments
Nchemba also directed the Ministry of Agriculture Tanzania to engage buyers in discussions aimed at ending crop purchases on credit and promoting immediate payment either in cash or through banking systems.
He said buyers who rely on credit arrangements should instead obtain financing from banks before purchasing crops from farmers.
“If you are a member of a cooperative or a trader who buys produce, secure loans from banks first and then purchase the crops from farmers with immediate payment,” he said.
The prime minister said many farmers depend on selling crops as a form of savings, allowing them to access money quickly to meet urgent household needs.
Expanding access to water
During a separate stop in Kasanga in Kalambo District, Nchemba instructed regional leaders to make better use of government-supplied drilling equipment to expand access to clean water.
He said the government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan has already distributed drilling machines to all regions to accelerate water projects.
“It is now the responsibility of each region to drill wells where needed and construct dams where necessary,” he told residents at a public rally in Rukwa Region.
He said more than 1,500 villages across Tanzania still lack reliable access to clean and safe water.
Regional authorities were therefore instructed to allocate sufficient funding for well-drilling projects, noting that the necessary equipment is already available.
“You already have the tools in your hands — go and do the job,” he said.
Nchemba added that the government has also distributed dam-construction equipment in each zone to support irrigation and water supply projects.
Warning on project delays
The prime minister also warned that the government would take a tough stance against delays and mismanagement in development projects.
“Your government will strictly supervise development projects and there will be zero tolerance for those who violate professional ethics during implementation,” he said.
During inspections in parts of Rukwa, including Nkasi District, he said authorities had identified signs of mismanagement, including procurement irregularities where building materials were priced above prevailing market rates.
Development achievements
Nchemba said the government remains committed to implementing development priorities outlined in the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) election manifesto for 2025–2030.
He said that over the past four years the government has constructed about 1,300 secondary schools across the country.
The expansion of classrooms has eliminated the need for a second selection process for students entering secondary education, he said.
In addition, the government has built one girls’ science secondary school in every region, 143 administration blocks and about 79,000 classrooms nationwide.
In the health sector, he said authorities have constructed 119 district hospitals, 2,800 dispensaries and 649 health centres to improve access to medical services.
Nchemba also highlighted infrastructure development in Rukwa, including the construction of a new airport valued at 60 billion Tanzanian shillings designed to connect the region with the country’s wider aviation network.
His visit to Rukwa Region included inspections of development projects and public meetings where residents raised concerns and asked questions about government programmes.
