Tanzania launches project to boost sugar production with high-yielding seed varieties 

TANZANIA – The Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) has launched a strategic initiative to produce and distribute 600 tonnes of high-yielding sugarcane seeds to farmers, aiming to enhance production and reduce the country’s sugar deficit. 

Speaking at the official launch over the weekend, Nessie Luambano, Manager of TARI Kibaha, stated that the seed varieties—Tarica 1, Tarica 2, and R 570—are disease-free and drought-tolerant, offering improved yields.  

This project, which began in fiscal 2023/2024, is part of a national strategy to boost sugar production and is being implemented in collaboration with Mkulazi Holding Co. and farmers in Kilosa District, Morogoro Region. 

Tanzania faces periodic sugar shortages due to limited access to high-yielding sugarcane seed varieties. Currently, the country produces 482,048 tonnes of sugar annually, against a demand of 722,000 tonnes.  

Of this demand, 482,000 tonnes are required for domestic consumption, while at least 240,000 tonnes are needed for industrial use. 

To bridge this gap, the government tasked TARI Kibaha with conducting research and developing high-quality sugarcane seed varieties.  

Through advanced laboratory procedures, including tissue culture technology, the institute successfully developed Tarica 1 and Tarica 2, which are expected to enhance productivity and sustainability. 

TARI Kibaha has also trained the farmers in essential sugarcane farming practices, including seed selection, site preparation, planting methods, fertilizer application, and irrigation techniques.  

Robert Mlimi, an agricultural officer, noted that the training emphasized pest and disease control, equipping farmers with knowledge on managing threats like SMUT, ratoon stunting disease (RSD), elana, white grub, white scale, and yellow sugarcane aphids (YSA). 

The three-day training program, held at Mkulazi Holding Co.’s ‘Nursery A’ sugarcane estate, combined classroom instruction and fieldwork. 

 Mariam Mtunguja, the facility’s sugarcane production coordinator, urged farmers to maximize seed multiplication and train fellow farmers to expand the initiative’s reach. 

The selected farmers are members of Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Societies (AMCOS), each possessing at least one acre of land suitable for sugarcane cultivation. Their role in seed production is crucial for achieving the 600-tonne target set by the project. 

The initiative aligns with Tanzania’s broader goal of achieving self-sufficiency in sugar production.  

Recently, President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced plans to establish an industrial sugar factory in Tanga Region, further supporting local production and reducing reliance on sugar imports.