Tanzania has traded more than 200,000 tonnes of sesame via the Tanzania Mercantile Exchange (TMX), a state-backed digital auction platform designed to modernise the nation’s agricultural market.
The announcement was made in Dar es Salaam by TMX business operations officer Mahama Kadikilo, who said the online bidding system is helping to improve transparency and remove long-standing inefficiencies in traditional trading methods.
For decades, smallholder farmers in Tanzania faced opaque pricing structures and exploitative middlemen, limiting their profits despite high international demand for sesame.
The TMX platform enables licensed buyers to participate in competitive bidding while providing real-time market data. This process has enhanced fair price discovery and helped narrow regional disparities in earnings. By giving farmers direct access to buyers and clear market information, the system has strengthened their bargaining power.
The Lindi Region led national production, contributing around 74,000 tonnes to the traded volume.
According to Kadikilo, TMX is fostering trust among producers, traders, and buyers, while bolstering Tanzania’s reputation as a key sesame supplier to markets in Asia and the Middle East.
“The exchange is building trust between all parties in the value chain and enhancing Tanzania’s competitiveness in global trade,” Kadikilo said.
Looking ahead, TMX plans to expand its range of traded commodities, onboard more smallholder farmers, and fully digitise trade documentation to lower transaction costs.
Industry analysts say such reforms could transform earnings for rural producers, giving Tanzania’s agricultural sector a more competitive edge in the global market.
About The Author
