<p>THE government will not renew licences for private cashew nut buyers who have been underpaying farmers, the Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Food and Cooperatives, Mr Adam Malima has said. Mr Malima also warned some cooperative leaders whom he said have been conspiring with such buyers to deprive farmers.</p> <p>He was responding to a question by Ms Faith Mitambo (Liwale-CCM), who wanted to know how the government will help cashew farmers who in the past three years have failed to sell their products during harvesting seasons. She also questioned the warehouse receipt system used in purchasing cashew nuts, wondering over whether it is still an ideal way of selling or there should be another mode.</p> <p>She also wondered as to why the government continues to award licences to buyers who have been depriving farmers. "The warehouse receipt system used to purchase cashew nut was a success in the first two years of establishment, but of late there are campaigns by private buyers and some cooperatives leaders to fail the system," said Mr Malima. He added that the government intends to amend the warehouse Receipt Act with the intention to put better arrangements that will benefit farmers. Mr Malima also noted that a review was also being made on the price structure in ensuring that deductions from farmers' income are reduced to maximise benefit among famers.</p> <p>He said on the current setting, all buyers are required to acquire licences from cashew nut board before they are allowed to participate in auctions. "We will from now on through the cashew nut board monitor closely and get to know serious buyers and speculators," he said. He added that the government through its embassies continues to search for cashew markets around the global, with the intent of getting more buyers who will help in bulk purchasing of the product.</p> <p>Mr Malima further noted that efforts are being made to advertise the Tanzanian cashew nut in various global mass media to attract buyers. "The major focus is on attracting investors to invest in cashew nut processing factories in a bid to enable the country export processed nuts as a way of increasing foreign exchange," he said.</p>