This archive report was first published on 30 October 2019.
Maize flour prices have skyrocketed in Dar es Salaam, with residents forced to dig deeper into their pockets to afford the staple food.
According to a survey by The EastAfrican, the average retail price for 1kg maize flour in most shops in Dar's suburbs now ranges between Tsh1,500 ($0.6) and Tsh1,800 ($0.7), up from between Tsh1,000 ($0.4) and Tsh1,300 ($0.5) in the previous quarter.
Despite Tanzania experiencing bumper harvests on cereal crops during the 2017/2018 harvesting season, millers in Dar es Salaam are facing a shortage of maize grains due to heavy rains that have hindered transportation to the main city's milling centres.
Agriculture Minister Japhet Hassunga has downplayed the price increase, stating that the country has enough food stock totalling 16 million tonnes and that the price hike is normal due to poor harvests in some areas and transportation issues.
Maize is a crucial food crop in Tanzania, accounting for over 70% of the country's cereal production, with most of it produced in the Southern Highlands, the Lake zone, and the Northern zone.
According to the Bank of Tanzania, demand for maize currently stands at 5,462,390 tonnes per year, with a surplus of 810,760 tonnes.
Published on October 30, 2019 by Emmanuel Onyango in The EastAfrican.
