AfricaPress-Tanzania: SUGAR production in the next four years is expected to double as government envisages expanding more land for cane growing to feed newly-built factories, it has been disclosed.
Agriculture Minister Prof Adolf Mkenda said the government targets to produce 704,000 tonnes by 2024 to slash imports of the commodity.
Government figures show that the demand for sugar could reach 568,371 tonnes up from the current 490,000 tonnes required annually. Technically, the general sugar demand stands at 655,000 tonnes, of which 70,000 tonnes are for industrial use.
Prof Mkenda said the rapidly growing population and the improved livelihood could increase the demand for sugar in the country. Currently, Tanzania produces an average of 300,000 tonnes of sugar annually.
The government, through the state-run sugar board, and the Tanzania Investment Centre, has also identified seven potential areas for establishing plantations with the capacity to produce 976,000 tonnes of sugar a year, Prof Mkenda said.
They include a 25,000-ha land in Kibondo District capable of producing 160,000 tonnes of sugar a year, a 37,000-ha land in Kasulu (240,000 tonnes), a 25,000-ha land in Rufiji (160,000 tonnes), a 22,000-ha land in Songwe (128,000), a 12,000-ha land in Mara (48,000 tonnes), a 27,462 hectares in Mpanda (160,000 tonnes) and a 12,372-ha land in Rukwa capable of producing 80 tonnes of sugar.
“We are monitoring the possibility of expanding the Kilombero, Kagera and Mtibwa mills to start producing 519,000 tonnes in 2024,” the minister said, adding the expansion and the emergence of new production lines in Bagamoyo of 35,000 tonnes and 50,000 tonnes from Mkulanzi respectively, will bring the total output to 704,000.
He said the country will have an excess of at least 135,629 tonnes in 2024.
The minister was, however, concerned that a large portion of sugarcanes remain in farms without being harvested. He said if harvested as required, at least 401,072 tonnes of sugar could be produced.
“This is because of limited milling capacity, especially at Kilombero and Manyara,” he said, adding that in the two areas alone a total of 201,800 hectares of stallholders’ cane were not harvested.
He directed the Kilombero mill and other processors to intensify production to help farmers who are now facing a loss amounting to 19bn/- due to unprocessed canes.
He warned that the government will consider allowing other investors to build mills that can help process canes in over 200,000 hectares that existing mills failed to process.
Every year the government approves permits for importing sugar amounting to at least 40,000 tonnes to bridge the deficit in the country.
Sugar Board Chairman Mwamini Malemi said the Board has resolved to ensure that the government reduces or cuts sugar imports from foreign countries.
He said an expected increase in production will help the plan. He concurred with minister that should the existing factories process all the canes produced by smallholder growers, Tanzania’s sugar output will be adequate.
