Tanzania bans exports of unprocessed food crops

Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa on Monday banned the export of unprocessed food crops, in a bid to encourage investment in agro-processing industries.

Majaliwa announced the ban when speaking at this year’s Eid al-Fitr celebration, which at the national level was held in Moshi Municipality, northern Tanzania’s region of Kilimanjaro.

“From today, it’s strictly prohibited for a person to export food crops which are not added value (unprocessed). The Fifth-Phase government has been encouraging investors to invest in agro-processing industries.

“In this area, we want people to export processed food crops. And if it is maize, farmers/traders should export maize flour. This will create employment for our people,” said Majaliwa.