The Government has announced plans to improve the warehouse receipt system in order to make it easier and more affordable for farmers to store and sell their crops.
Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba said the reforms are aimed at solving long-standing challenges, especially the high costs and long distances farmers travel to access warehouse services.
He said the Government wants warehouses to be closer to farmers so that farmers do not have to travel long distances after harvesting their crops.
He made the remarks on Saturday, May 16, 2026, when speaking to residents of Mnenia Ward in Kondoa District, Dodoma Region, during his ongoing tour to listen to citizens’ concerns and find solutions to their challenges.
The Prime Minister said the Government has received many complaints from farmers about how the system works. He added that steps are already being taken to improve it so that it benefits farmers as it was originally planned.
He emphasized that the ruling party’s manifesto clearly directs that services should be brought closer to citizens. In this case, storage services should also be made available near farming communities instead of farmers moving long distances.
“We want warehouses to come closer to the people, not the people going to warehouses,” he said.
He noted that in many areas, farmers spend a lot of money and time transporting crops to distant warehouses. This reduces their profits and slows down business activities.
To address these challenges, the Government will hold a special meeting involving regional leaders and key experts from major crop-producing areas that use the warehouse receipt system. The meeting will review the problems and agree on practical solutions.
The regions expected to take part include Dodoma, Singida, Simiyu, Tabora, and some southern regions that produce crops such as sesame and lentils.
In another step, the Government has instructed buyers of agricultural crops to stop giving loans directly to farmers before purchasing their produce. Instead, they should borrow money from banks and financial institutions.
The aim is to protect farmers from unfair credit arrangements and ensure that all financial dealings follow proper banking systems.
The Prime Minister said banks are the right institutions to provide loans, while buyers should focus on purchasing crops in a fair and transparent market system.
The Government says it will continue to monitor the system closely to make sure farmers benefit more, reduce losses, and improve incomes across the country.
