Cooperative unions have maintained their role in making a great contribution to member farmers by enabling them to access reliable markets where they sell their produce at favourable prices thus earning big and changing lives.

As the year 2025 is in its early days, 128.7 tons of cashews have already been sold at a value of 3,167/- per kilogram through an auction organized by the Central Zone Agricultural and Marketing Cooperative Union Limited (CEAMCU LTD) of Manyoni district in Singida region.

The first auction of the cash crop for this year was held at the warehouse of the Cashew Board in Manyoni district on January 30, 2025 through AMCOS using the warehouse receipt systems and the Tanzania Mercantile Exchange Plc (TMX).

Addressing farmers who are members of the Cooperatives at the auction event, the Assistant Registrar of Cooperatives in Singida region Nuria Gulamali commended them for agreeing to sell their cashews through AMCOS by accepting digital transformation and selling through TMX and benefiting from good prices.

Itigi District Commissioner Dr.  Vincent Mashinji, asked the farmers to ensure that they produce and sell the best cashews to TMX to match the competitive market and get a decent price.

"The biggest challenge for farmers is the market, that's why the government decided to bring this system to facilitate access to markets and help farmers to get profit through cooperatives by being given a good price for their produce," said Dr. Mashinji.

On his part, the Chairman of Cashew Farmers in Manyoni District, Issa Madenge encouraged farmers to continue producing quality cashews and surrender their produce to TMX to get a good price through transparent sales systems that do not exploit the farmer.

"I am very happy with the good price we sold today. I thank the government for waiving unnecessary levies, it has given us a lot of encouragement as farmers to continue to work hard so that we can produce cashews in abundance and next season we can benefit from a good price through the digital auction system involving cooperatives," said Madenge.

In another advancement, Kanyovu Coffee Curing Cooperative Joint Enterprise Limited (KCCCJE LTD) has made a second payment (in addition to the initial payment) to coffee farmers in Kigoma region worth 144.2mn/-.

The payment for the sale of coffee has been made through a joint project of farmers in cooperatives.

The ceremony to launch the payments was held at the end of January, 2025 in Matyazo Village, Kigoma District where the Kanyovu Coffee Curing Cooperative Joint Enterprise Limited coffee factory is based.

The amount will be paid as a bonus to the coffee farmers who sold through the KCCCJE LTD Cooperative Joint Project at a payment of 250/- per kilogram.

In addition, at the event, members of KCCCJE LTD donated nutritious food, auxiliary equipment, soap and mattress covers worth 5mn/- to the daycare center for needy children who are being cared for by the Matyazo daycare center based in Kalinzi ward, Kigoma district.

The event was attended by various leaders including the Kasulu District Commissioner, Isaac Mwakisu.