TANZANIA recorded the highest average cashew price in Africa during the 2025/2026 season, with farmers earning 2,550/- per kilo, the Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Mr David Silinde, has said. Responding to a basic question by Mtama MP, Mr Nape Nnauye (CCM), in the National Assembly yesterday, Mr Silinde said the price is well above that offered in other major producing countries. In his basic question, Mr Nnauye wanted to know whether the government is ready to review the pricing mechanism in cashew auctions, following complaints from farmers over how prices are determined. Mr Silinde further said neighbouring producers, including Mozambique, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and Benin, recorded an average price of 1,750/- per kilo, underscoring Tanzania’s competitive position in the market. He attributed the higher prices to ongoing reforms in the auctioning system, particularly the use of digital trading through the Tanzania Mercantile Exchange (TMX), a platform for trading agricultural commodities. “The digital auction system has substantially improved transparency and enabled farmers to receive competitive prices that reflect real-time market dynamics,” he said. He said further that the TMX model has strengthened competition and efficiency in the cashew value chain, ensuring farmers benefit from fair pricing based on supply and demand. The Deputy Minister emphasised that the government remains open to recommendations from stakeholders and will continue improving the system to safeguard farmers’ interests and enhance the performance of the cashew sub-sector. In a supplementary question, Mr Nnauye asked whether the government would work with stakeholders to address price disparities that arise within the same season, noting that farmers deserve predictable and fair earnings from their produce. Responding, Mr Silinde reaffirmed the government’s readiness to collaborate with stakeholders to examine and strengthen the auction system to ensure it delivers maximum benefit to growers. The MP also queried whether the government would revisit the warehouse handling system to enhance transparency, noting that cashew nuts from different farmers are stored together while buyers may offer varying prices, creating uncertainty among farmers. Mr Silinde said the government will not introduce any system without wide consultation and a comprehensive review to ensure transparency and protection of farmers’ interests. He stressed that any reforms must ensure farmers remain the primary beneficiaries of the cashew value chain