The Weights and Measures Agency (WMA) has stepped up efforts to protect farmers from unfair trade practices by ensuring that measuring equipment used in agricultural production and marketing is accurate and regularly inspected.
WMA Director of Support Services, Christopher Mwakibinga, said reliable measurement systems are essential in ensuring farmers receive the true value of their produce based on the resources and effort invested in production.
Speaking at the WMA pavilion during the ongoing Nane Nane Agricultural Exhibition in Dodoma on August 4, 2026, Mwakibinga said the agency’s interventions cover key areas across the agricultural value chain, from production to market.
Representing WMA Chief Executive Officer Alban Kihulla, he said the agency inspects and certifies equipment such as water meters used in irrigation schemes to ensure farmers are charged fairly for services.
“Farmers need to get the real value of the work they put into production. Accurate measurements are important in protecting their income and strengthening confidence in agricultural markets,” Mwakibinga said.
He added that WMA also verifies electricity meters used by agro-processing industries to protect both consumers and businesses involved in adding value to agricultural products.
The agency, he said, continues to inspect weighing scales used in the purchase of strategic crops, including cashew nuts, cotton and tobacco, to ensure transactions are based on correct measurements.
Mwakibinga said WMA is conducting awareness campaigns to educate farmers on the importance of using certified weighing equipment when selling their crops.
He also cautioned against the use of the lumbesa system, saying the practice can undermine farmers’ earnings by making it difficult to determine the actual quantity and value of their produce.
“The use of proper weighing systems gives farmers confidence that they are being paid fairly for their crops,” he said.
The WMA official said the agency’s work supports the government’s efforts to improve productivity, strengthen markets and increase returns from agriculture.
The initiatives align with this year’s Nane Nane Exhibition theme: “Recognise the Market; Increase Productivity to Implement the National Development Vision 2050.”
By enforcing measurement standards, WMA said it aims to promote transparency in agricultural trade and ensure farmers benefit more from their contribution to the economy.
