AfricaPress-Tanzania: THE government yesterday announced indicative prices for retail sugar per kilogram for each region, ranging from 2,600/-to 3,200/-.
The move is aimed at controlling unscrupulous traders who have been hiking the prices of the essential product.
Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Japhet Hasunga said the indicative prices will help to end the illegal practices by some traders who have been increasing the price to maximize profits.
He noted that currently the commodity is trading at between 4,000/-and 4,500/-per kilograms.
Mr. Hasunga said the government will not tolerate such practices and that from now onwards, whoever would be found selling sugar contrary to the official prices would face legal actions.
He said indicative prices for retail sugar in Dar es Salaam is 2600/- , while for Morogoro, Coast Region, Tanga, Manyara, Kilimanjaro and Arusha is 2,700/- and Lindi and Mtwara is 2,800/- .
The cap price for Dodoma, Iringa, Njombe, Mwanza, Simiyu, Geita, Shinyanga Singida and Tabora is 2,900/- while that of Mara, Songwe, Kagera, Mbeya is 3,000/-and 3200/-for Rukwa, Katavi, Ruvuma and Kigoma.
“These indicative prices have been set by considering the importation costs incurred by local producers to cover the shortage of the commodity and the distance to the destination,” he said.
Mr Hasunga further explained that, the actual demand of sugar in the country is about 470,000 tonnes, the equivalent of 8,000 tonnes per month.
He said local sugar factories were expected to produce 378,000 tonnes during the 2019/2020 season, which is equivalent to 82.9 per cent of the actual demand of the commodity but they failed to meet the target due to various factors, including weather condition.
“The capacity of our local factories has created a shortage of 78,000 tonnes, which was supposed to be produced following improved weather conditions and efficiency of our factories,” he said.
On his part, Minister for Industry and Trade Mr Innocent Bashungwa said, following the shortage of the product the government issued permits for local producers to import sugar to cover the deficit.
“As of today a total of 10,710 tonnes of sugar have been imported and distributed to all regions in the country,” he said.
He further explained that another consignment of 13,500 tonnes is expected in the country between April 24, 28 and 30 this year.
Mr Bashungwa noted that the amount of sugar produced in the country and the imported consignment was enough to meet the country’s demand, calling upon the people to remain calm because the country had enough stock of sugar,” he said.
Minister Bashungwa further said that the government would not tolerate errant traders who hike the price of the essential product.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa directed regional commissioners to take stern measures against individuals, especially distributors, wholesalers and retailers who sell sugar at high prices.
“There is no reason for sugar price to rise above the normal price tag because there was enough stock in the country and another consignment has been imported,” he said.
