Lyn Frans
Tanzania is set to import over 300,000 tonnes of sugar this year as the East African state takes decisive measures to tackle the existing deficit of the sweetener, according to Minister of Agriculture, Hussein Bashe.
During a briefing at the State House in Dar es Salaam, Mr. Bashe addressed editors regarding the availability of sugar and the government’s response. He disclosed that over 25,000 tonnes of sugar were being unloaded from a ship at the Port of Dar es Salaam at that moment.
Mr. Bashe elaborated that the government, through the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA), intends to import more than 300,000 tonnes of sugar this year to tackle the crisis. Emphasizing food safety, he mentioned that the current sugar shipment was brought in by a company in agreement with NFRA, not an industry.
Attributing the issue to El Niño rains predicted by the Tanzanian Meteorological Authority (TMA), Mr. Bashe expressed hope that sugar availability would stabilize before the start of Ramadan.
“We will continue importing sugar through NFRA. The sugar currently being unloaded, as I speak, has been brought by a company that has entered into an agreement with NFRA, not an industry, because this is a matter of food safety,” he stated.
Hussein Bashe, also criticized retailers for doubling the sugar prices and announced that authorities had initiated an operation to apprehend those selling the commodity above the set price cap.
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