Tanzania - Farm-Gate Price Monitoring in Selected Impact Countries, February 2015

Between July 2013 and January 2014, maize was the primary crop sold by farmers in the data sample and represented the main share of supplies in northern, central, and southern areas of Tanzania. In western regions of the country, beans were the main product supplied by monitored farmers.

Nearly 40% of farmers who contributed to data monitoring relied on just one or two marketing channels for selling their produce; 25% of farmers recorded no sales throughout the reporting period. Only 10 farmers (40% of the sample) supplied their products to P4P-supported farmers' organizations (FOs).

With the exception of sales through FOs, no clear relationship was found between the farmer’s choice and the price differentials of marketing channels. The local market was the main channel in northern areas regardless of price differences to other markets. In southern regions, the farm gate was the main marketing channel for maize during harvest, although prices were lower than at other selling points.

On the other hand, farmers chose to sell through FOs only when prices were more advantageous prices as compared to other marketing channels in their respective locality.