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The Tanzania Society of Sugar and Cane Technologists (TSSCT) has identified insufficient sugarcane seedlings as one of the reasons for the decreased sugar production in the nation.
TSSCT’s Executive Secretary, Fredrick Charles, mentioned that this issue compels industry players to import around 90% of the seedlings from countries like Mauritius, Malawi, and South Africa.
“Another challenge is the lack of modern machines in local industries,” Mr Charles said during the 10th forum of experts from the sugar sector over the weekend.
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The government aims to increase sugar production from an average of 460,048 tonnes in 2022/2023 to 706,000 tonnes by the end of the 2025/2026 fiscal year, as stated by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa during a recent parliamentary session.
The Prime Minister highlighted that the sugar demand for 2023/24 is projected to be around 807,000 tonnes, with 552,000 tonnes designated for domestic consumption and the remaining 255,000 tonnes for industrial purposes.
Historically, sugar production has been centered around five operational factories: Kilombero Sugar Company, Tanganyika Planting Company (TPC), Kagera Sugar, Mtibwa Sugar Estates, and Bagamoyo Sugar Factory.
He urged stakeholders in the sugar industry to recognize the significant opportunity in investing in modern equipment to enhance sugar production and availability.
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George Gowelle, a representative of the Sugar Board Tanzania (SBT), mentioned that trials conducted by the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) on newly produced seedlings have shown promising results.
Furthermore, a new project will be launched in Kilombero District, Morogoro Region, to produce sugarcane seedlings on a 400-hectare block farm. Additional seedling block farms will be set up at the Mtibwa Sugar factory for small-scale farmers and another in the Manyara Region.
During a forum opening, Morogoro Regional Commissioner Adam Malima advised experts to prioritize research efforts to tackle the shortage.
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“Conduct research and submit findings to the relevant authorities for solutions to the challenges,” Adam Malima he emphasized.
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