The Premier said that five out of nine nuisance levies will be scrapped, ordering the Cashew nut board to ensure the directive is successfully implemented.
“I call upon all government executives at different levels to ensure implementation of the order…our aim is to reduce the tax load for farmers,” he said, noting that cashew nut farmers have been carrying a heavy burden of taxes in previous years.
Majaliwa made the statement on Suturday evening when receiving the Mtwara Region development report from Regional Commissioner Halima Dendego.
The RC informed the Prime Minister that they had so far been able to scrap several levies on the crop. According to the PM, the levies were somehow discouraging cashew nut farmers, a situation that led to farmers hating the warehouse receipt system.
Commenting on the decline of cashew nut faming, Majaliwa said he had directed the Cashewnut Industry Development Trust Fund to conduct research to identify some of the factors that have led to the drop.
The fund is responsible for overseeing all the matters related to cashew nut cultivation development, agricultural inputs and markets. He promised to meet with the Fund’s management to discuss how to improve cashew nut farming in the country.
“I will soon meet with the Fund management, whereby I’ll ask for a report on what they have done in the past three years as well as find out their plans on reviving the crop…even though they have money, they don’t distribute agricultural inputs on time,” said the Premier. He, however, directed the Cashew nut Board to make sure that framers were getting quality agricultural inputs.
Responding to a question from Katani Ahmed Katani (Tandahimba-CUF) in Parliament this year during the question-and-answer session, the PM said the government planned to scrap the nuisance charges on cashew nuts, tobacco, coffee and cotton. He said the move was geared towards ensuring that farmers operated in a conducive environment and benefitted from their sweat.
The Premier noted that so far the government has removed the 15 per cent levy for the farmers. He said the tariff was charged during the purchase of various packaging materials including bags. On tobacco, Premier Majaliwa said he would visit Tabora Region immediately after the completion of the budget sessions in Dodoma.
He said that during the visit, he would meet with farmers, buyers, stakeholders and manufactures of tobacco products in order to discuss and find solutions to the existing challenges. “We are determined to support framers…these crops are of great importance to our economy,” said Majaliwa.
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