This archive report was first published on 25 November 2019.
Published on November 25, 2019, a growing maize shortage in Tanzania has led to a significant increase in prices, with a 100-kilogramme bag now costing Tsh110,000 ($47.9), up from Tsh65,000 ($28.3) last year.
President John Magufuli has stated that the government will not intervene in the market, allowing prices to be regulated by market forces.
He urged farmers to capitalize on the situation, emphasizing that they have the right to determine their earnings.
The high demand for maize in Southern Africa and East Africa, where it is a staple food, has contributed to the shortage. Tanzanian farmers are free to sell their produce to neighboring countries, including Zambia, Malawi, DR Congo, Kenya, and South Africa.
According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the retail price of maize flour in rural areas ranges between Tsh800 ($0.3) and Tsh950 ($0.4) per kilogramme, while in urban areas, it retails for between Tsh1,500 ($0.6) and Tsh1,800 ($0.7) per kilogramme.
Despite the shortage, Agriculture Minister Japhet Hasunga has assured that the country's food situation remains stable, citing a surplus of 810,760 tonnes of maize, with a demand of 5,462,390 tonnes per year.
