Advertisement

Deputy Speaker presses on tech, innovation to boost sugar production

KILOMBERO, MOROGORO: October 2024 The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly who also doubles as the Ilala Member of Parliament Mussa Azzan Zungu officiated the Kilombero Sugar cane Farmers Day  on Saturday and urged farmers and stakeholders within the sugar industry to invest on modern technology and innovation in order to boost sugar production in the country. The Kilombero Sugar cane Farmers Day will go hand in hand with a three day exhibitions where sugar cane farmers will have an opportunity to interact with other stakeholders within the sector and therefore continue acquiring new ideas which will continue boosting their production.

Officiating the Kilombero Sugar cane Farmers Day held in Kidatu in Kilombero the  the Deputy Speaker Mussa Azzan Zungu called famers and other stakeholders to invest on acquiring new technology and innovation in order to improve their yields, work more efficiently, and achieve self-sufficiency.

‘I have learned that this year’s theme is Empowering Cane famers through technology and innovation, a path to increase productivity and sugar sufficiency’. It is for that reason why im calling farmers and stakeholders to invest heavily on those areas as it is the only way that will boost production.

Advertisement

The Kilombero Sugar cane Farmers Day commemoration will go hand in hand with a three day exhibitions which include a wide range of farming equipment, quality seeds, proper fertilizer usage, and various methods for disease and pest control in sugarcane crops.

ALSO READ: Private sector engagement crucial for sustainable healthcare in Tanzania

Zungu also commended the ongoing Kilombero Sugar factory expansion project and urged ongoing efforts to increase sugar supply in order to enable the country become self-sufficient in sugar.

“The progress made, on the expansion project is very impressive. I urge the company to increase its efforts to cover gaps caused by slow progress during the rainy season.

“I’m very impressed with the good relations that Kilombero Sugar has with farmers, stakeholders and the surrounding community,” he added.

Speaking about the K4 factory expansion, whose construction is over 90 per cent complete now, Kilombero Sugar Director of Communications and Public Relations Derick Stanley said once the project is completed it will double the company’s sugar processing capacity by producing an additional 144,000 tonnes of sugar per year.

The new factory will also have more than double the amount of cane sourced from growers.

“Our goal is to support the government’s efforts in ensuring self-sufficiency in sugar through locally produ he gotced sugar.

Apart from strategies for internal efficiency, we are working with various stakeholders to provide growers with education on best farming practices and other technical and financial support to improve their yield per acre.”, said Stanley while adding that the current operations and expansion project will continue to touch the lives of communities, not only in Kilombero, but also in Kilosa and other neighbouring districts.”

On his part, the Chairman of Kilombero Joint Enterprises Cooperatives Society, which represents 17 Agricultural Marketing Co-operatives (AMCOS), Charles Mayunga said that the Kilombero Sugar cane Farmers Day is a significant opportunity for farmers to meet and discuss all matters related to modern farming techniques.

With the support of partners, we are empowering farmers with the knowledge and technology to improve their yields, work more efficiently, and achieve self-sufficiency.”

Ends.