PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has expressed disappointment with public agencies and individual traders exploiting farmers by manipulating measurements and underpaying them.

Speaking yesterday in Ifakara in Kilombero District, Morogoro Region on the fifth day of a seven-day tour of the region, the president discussed the behaviour of various officials who by habit systematically underpay farmers.

She referred to numerous reports about inflating measurements in purchasing produce, making payments unfair, citing complaints from rice farmers during the visit. The farmers work tirelessly and it is unacceptable for officials to exploit them, she said, urging that this behaviour be stopped.

Officials and traders buy rice at low prices and resell it for higher profits, significantly harming farmers and undermining their hard work, she said, directing the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) to increase the price of rice purchased in the region to 900/- per kilo, from 570/- at present, which she described as exploitative.

At an earlier event, the president had narrated an ordeal by family members growing rice in Mvuha area, Morogoro Rural District, compelled to abandon the effort after repeated livestock invasions on the farm.

She emphasised government commitment to adding value to farm produce and mineral resources, pointing at the importance of building processing plants in various areas.

The government is committed to creating an investment-friendly environment, she said, underlining sufficient electricity supply for factories while praising the Ifakara crop purchasing center as having brought significant benefits.

The Kidatu-Ifakara road was being paved as part of the wider southern agro-sector corridor project to tackle agricultural challenges, she said, affirming plans to expand the road further.

She expressed gratitude to development partners including the European Union (EU), UK Aid and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for supporting the road construction project.

Addressing environmental concerns, she appealed to officials to protect the Kilombero Valley's ecological stability, as it is crucial for the Nyerere Hydropower Project, objecting to creating new villages in conservation areas.

She said that this was being done for political gain, emphasizing adherence to regulations, while stressing compensation for those displaced in implementing various projects.

She urged public patience on the issue, assuring the residents that the government recognises their rights and will address the compensation drawbacks.

Mohamed Mchengerwa, the Regional Administration and Local Governments state minister in the President’s Office, (PO-RALG) said in response to complaints about produce taxes, that the ministry would arrange a meeting with relevant local authorities on curbing arbitrary taxation on produce.

The government has allocated 4bn/- for compensating Ulanga residents displaced in developing electricity projects, he said, affirming that 2bn/- had already been disbursed.

He also addressed a complaint from Namawala residents about funds meant for building a teacher’s house and a dispensary, apparently being diverted to build the village chairperson’s house.

The minister demanded that the Kilombero district commissioner investigate the matter and report back within two weeks, while praising considerable improvement in school performance, building new schools and renovating existing facilities in the past three years.

Agriculture minister Hussein Bashe outlined plans to develop the Kilombero Valley, which covers about 57,000 hectares, for irrigation farming, affirming that a contractor is already conducting a feasibility study, with plans to implement the project in phases, starting with 10,000 hectares.

“We will build large irrigation schemes and dams to store water and support irrigation throughout the year,” he stated.

Cotton farming will also be revived in Malinyi and Ulanga districts, with the construction of a processing plant in Lupillo to add value, reducing the need to ship it raw or transport it long distances, he said.

The government will purchase rice at 140,000/- per bag in the coming purchasing season following instructions from President Samia to NFRA that rice prices be set much higher than the 80,000/- paid at present, which the minister attributes to middlemen.