TASUPA unveils strategy to boost edible oil production
The Tanzania Sunflower Processors Association (TASUPA) has launched a strategy to promote high-yield sunflower seeds, aiming to reduce edible oil imports. Deputy Agriculture Secretary Dr. Hussein Omar emphasized the crop’s role in Tanzania’s Agricultural Transformation Master Plan 2050. TASUPA Chairperson Ringo Iringo highlighted the initiative’s potential to double yields, boost local economies, and create jobs.
SINGIDA: IN joint efforts to ease the burden of importing edible oil, the Tanzania Sunflower Processors Association (TASUPA) has launched a comprehensive strategy to promote the use of improved sunflower seedlings.
Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture responsible for Crops Development and Food Security, Dr Hussein Omar, stated that sunflower is among 20 key crops in Tanzania’s Agricultural Transformation Master Plan 2050, which aims to address edible oil shortages amid growing climate change challenges.
Dr Omar stated that the government will continue educating farmers on improved seed use to enhance productivity. TASUPA Chairperson, Mr Ringo Iringo, emphasised that adopting high-yield, disease-resistant seeds will significantly increase production and reduce the country’s dependence on imports.
“Currently, the country spends foreign currency on importing edible oil due to low sunflower yields caused by the use of unproductive local seedlings,” Mr Iringo said.
“Our goal is to increase sunflower production significantly, enabling us to meet local edible oil demands and eliminate imports,” Iringo added.
As Tanzania faces rising global oil prices and supply chain disruptions, boosting domestic production has become urgent.
TASUPA’s strategy includes training farmers on best agricultural practices, collaborating with research institutions, and ensuring access to high-quality seedlings with ongoing technical support.
Mr Iringo highlighted that adopting improved sunflower varieties could potentially double yields, benefiting local economies.
“Each farmer who switches to these seedlings can increase their income, strengthening local markets and creating jobs in processing plants,” he explained.
The initiative aligns with government efforts to enhance the agricultural sector and improve food security, making sunflower farming a more viable and profitable venture for local farmers.
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Source : Daily News
