Minister promises to pay cashew farmers before the next season takes off
Deputy Minister for Agriculture Mr Omary Mgumba
What you need to know:
The government has on Monday, September 09, 2019 told the Parliament in Dodoma that all cashew farmers will be paid their outstanding dues before commencement of the next season.
Dodoma. Deputy Minister for Agriculture Mr Omary Mgumba has allayed fears of unpaid cashew nut farmers saying their payment will be cleared before the start of next season.
Mr Mgumba was responding to a supplementary question posed by Mr Cecil Mwambe (Ndanda-Chadema) who said there was uncertainty among cashew farmers due to payment delays.
The government announced that it would buy all cashew nuts in the current season due to a crisis after traders failed to meet the indicative prices.
"There is an uncertainty among cashew farmers and the next season is fast approaching. When will the government pay farmers’ arrears," asked Mr Mwambe without mentioning the number of farmers who are yet to be paid.
Mr Mgumba said almost everything was ready and payment would be cleared before the next season starts.
"We are waiting for the cashew bought in the first phase to be exported and as we speak, it's done. So, the remaining unpaid farmers will be cleared before the start of the next season," said Mr Mgumba.
The ministry of agriculture is this week set to announce the indicative prices for the 2019 season , promising not to interfere in the buying of the cashews this year.
