President Samia emphasized that citizens must not export maize without permits from the Ministry of Agriculture and following other required procedures, as it negatively impacts the economy and market trade.

She made these remarks during the inauguration of modern silos and warehouses of the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) in Kanondo, Rukwa Region, as part of her ongoing tour in the region.

“We are constructing silos and warehouses so that when farmers harvest, the government can purchase and store the crops quickly.

When you create unauthorized routes and load food onto trucks to export it freely, the government gains nothing.

I urge the Regional Commissioner to follow up on this, and district commissioners to ensure that no food leaves without a permit from the Ministry of Agriculture,” she said.

Additionally, President Samia directed that subsidized fertilizers continue to be available and emphasized that maize should be purchased from rural farmers at a price of 600 shillings per kilo and from urban areas at 650 shillings per kilo.

Furthermore, she instructed that digital scales be increased significantly at NFRA centers to facilitate services for farmers, ensuring they receive accurate weights for their produce.