<p>The government of Tanzania on Monday pledged to complete paying cashew nuts farmers the remaining 59 billion Tanzanian shillings (about 25.6 million U.S. dollars) for the 2018/2019 season by Oct. 30. Omary Mgumba, the Deputy Minister for Agriculture, made the promise when he opened a cashew nuts stakeholders meeting in the east African nation's southern region of Mtwara. </p><p>Mgumba said the government was also in the process of paying 24 billion shillings to service providers as well as 9 billion shillings to producers of cashew seedlings across the country.</p> <p>"I'm aware that farmers are eager to hear the government's statement on payments of arrears for the 2018/2019. I would like to assure you that all remaining arrears will be paid by Oct. 30, 2019," said the official.</p> <p>Mgumba said more than 220,000 tonnes of cashew nuts worth 722 billion shillings were bought by the government in the 2018/2019 season, adding that 663 billion shillings had been paid to the farmers with claims amounting to 59 billion shillings still not paid.</p> He said during the 2017/2018 season, the government earned 575 million dollars cashew nuts, which was equivalent to total revenue collected from coffee, tea and tobacco. <br><p></p>