Tanzania focuses on increasing sugar output by boosting cane production
Tanzania’s Agriculture Minister, Hussein Bashe, disclosed plans to bolster sugar production by allocating 400 hectares for sugarcane seedling cultivation. The initiative, in partnership with the Sugar Board and Tanzania Prisons Production Corporation, aims to address current shortages exacerbated by El Nino-induced heavy rains. Bashe noted the nation’s 4.2 million tonne sugarcane yield falls short of targets, prompting the National Food Reserve Agency to authorize 410,000 tonnes of sugar imports in 2024.
The Agriculture Minister of Tanzania, Hussein Bashe, told the parliament that the government has set aside 400 hectares of land to grow sugarcane seedlings. These seedlings will be given to sugarcane farmers to help increase sugar production in the country, reported News Ghana.
Bashe said that the Sugar Board of Tanzania has partnered with the Tanzania Prisons Production Corporation to grow sugarcane seedlings in Turiani, Morogoro Region.
Currently, Tanzania produces about 4.2 million tonnes of sugarcane each year, which gives around 392,724 tonnes of sugar. This is about 88.25% of what the country aims to produce. Bashe mentioned that they are looking into finding suitable areas to grow sugarcane with irrigation.
He also said that heavy rains, influenced by El Nino, have affected sugarcane production, causing a shortage of sugar in the country. To tackle this, the National Food Reserve Agency has allowed sugar traders to import 410,000 tonnes of sugar between January and December 2024.
Source Link : https://www.chinimandi.com/tanzania-focuses-on-increasing-sugar-output-by-boosting-cane-production/
