For many cashew farmers in Mtwara, this year’s marketing season has begun with mixed feelings — gratitude for sales progress but frustration over prices they say do not match the hard labour behind the crop.
Farmers have sold atleast 35,000 tonnes of cashews at a top price of Sh2,510 per kilo, at the first auction of the Mtwara Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Union (MAMCU) Ltd for the 2025/2026 season. While the figure marks a relatively strong opening for the region, many farmers are calling for an increase to at least Sh3,000 per kilo to better reflect production costs and the effort invested in their farms.
“The prices are good for those who have managed to sell, but we ask the government to raise it to at least Sh3,000 per kilo,” said Zainabu Nalinga, a cashew farmer from Mtwara. “The energy it takes to farm is huge — from measuring, sweeping, to collecting the cashew nuts. We just ask for it to rise a bit.”
Farmers Depend on Cashew Earnings for Daily Survival
Several farmers emphasized that the cashew harvest is their main source of livelihood, supporting everything from household expenses to school fees.
“Farming is really hard work,” said Jafari Kulonga, another farmer from Mtwara. “We depend on this cashew money for so many things — some of us use it to educate our children. That’s why we’re asking the government to increase the price so we can meet our goals.”
Others expressed cautious optimism, saying the season has started well but that it is too early to tell how prices will progress as more buyers enter the market.
“I have received the prices with joy because it’s just the beginning,” said Shaibub Salumu, a cashew grower. “When the market starts, it can go either way — up or down — but we are thankful.”
Cooperative Urges Farmers to Verify Accounts Before Payment
MAMCU officials have assured farmers that all payments will be made according to verified sales records while urging them to check their bank account details to avoid delays.
“We are fully prepared to ensure every farmer receives their payment,” said Alhaj Azam Julajula, the MAMCU Ltd Chairperson. “But we ask farmers to help us by verifying their accounts. Even one rejected transaction can cause confusion when serving over 2,000 farmers.”
Julajula warned that inactive accounts could lead to “rejections” during payment processing, urging farmers to reactivate their accounts early to prevent disruption.
Meanwhile, officials from the Tanzania Mercantile Exchange (TMX) expressed optimism about the market’s outlook, saying more buyers are expected to join future auctions.
“Many buyers had been slow to come, but we expect them to start arriving now that the market has stabilized,” said Godfrey Marekano, TMX Director. “We have high hopes that farmers will get competitive prices reflecting their hard work.”
As the season unfolds, the focus in Mtwara remains on ensuring fair returns for farmers whose livelihoods depend on cashew sales — and on maintaining a smooth payment process that rewards their year-long effort in one of Tanzania’s most vital cash crops.
