THE National Food Reserve Authority (NFRA) in the Arusha northern zone has initiated a special centre for the rolling out of different maize grain services.

Installed in Babati district of Arusha region, the state -of-the- art facility has been designed to mete-out maize refining and drying services, together with packing.

Speaking to The Guardian during a special tour of the project, NFRA's northern zone manager, Andrew Kanyika said the authority has decided to establish the facility with an eye to improve performance of maize grains marketing sector within the zone.

He added, the center caters for all traders and farmers in maize trade sector, being out of those going to sell their maize at the branch.

"At the center, services are offered at affordable prices, which stands at 5/- for refining one Kg of maize, 10/- for drying one Kg of maize at recommended measure, " he said.

He urged the maize traders within the zone to use the facility in order to stand chance to comply with the set maize quality demand as per local and international markets.

He urged the maize traders within the zone to use the facility in order to stand a chance to comply with the set maize quality demand as per local and international markets.

Talking over NFRA future plans within the zone, Kanyika observed that the focus was to continue working closely with the districts and wards agricultural officers inspect and advice farmers on better harvesting practices.

"We're also advising the farmers not to sell their maize in plantations, but selling at NFRA points at attractive prices," he said.

 He said, NFRA has set modern payment modality,  through which farmers are getting their statutory money within 14 days after selling maize grains to it. 

"In sone cases we even manage to pay the farmers withing two to three days, and we're often not paying the farmers on cash basis," he said.

"In some cases we even manage to pay the farmers within two to three days, and we're often not paying the farmers cash" he added.

The mission of NFRA is “to guarantee national food security by procuring, reserving and re- cycling strategic food stock in an efficient and cost effective manner.