Tanzania declares sugar a strategic crop, expands agricultural investments to boost food self-sufficiency
President Samia outlines key measures to raise domestic sugar production and strengthen the agriculture sector for national food security.
TANZANIA – Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has announced that sugar is now considered a strategic crop, with the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) authorized to procure and store the commodity during periods of shortage.
This move is part of a broader effort to stabilise supply and enhance food security across the country.
Speaking to Members of Parliament, President Samia expressed gratitude for their support of the new policy and highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen domestic sugar production.
Among the key developments are the construction and expansion of several sugar processing plants, including the Bagamoyo factory with a capacity of 35,000 tonnes, the Mkulazi plant at 50,000 tonnes, and the Kilombero facility, which is being expanded to produce 271,000 tonnes annually.
Upgrades at Mtibwa and Kagera Sugar have also contributed an additional 3,092 tonnes to national output. With these developments, Tanzania aims to raise total domestic sugar production to 700,000 tonnes.
From 2018 to 2023, sugar production increased from 295,000 tonnes to 460,000 tonnes. The rise is attributed to factory expansions, increased sugarcane acreage, and support for smallholder farmers.
Supporting this growth, the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) launched a new initiative in March 2025 to distribute 600 tonnes of high-yielding sugarcane seed varieties, including Tarica 1, Tarica 2, and R 570. These disease-resistant, drought-tolerant varieties are expected to improve yields across sugarcane farming communities.
On cooking oil production, President Samia noted that oilseed output rose from 1.713 million tonnes in 2021 to 2.181 million tonnes in 2024. However, actual cooking oil production remains at 396,335 tonnes.
The President also outlined significant investments in the agriculture sector, with the national budget rising from Tsh 294 billion (US$111.5M) in 2021/22 to Tsh1.24 trillion (US$470.2M) in 2025—a more than 300 percent increase.
Seed access improved from 47,700 tonnes to 72,031 tonnes between 2021/22 and 2024/25, while fertiliser availability grew by 80.9 percent, from 676,017 tonnes in 2021 to 1.21 million tonnes in 2025.
Efforts to modernise the sector also include distributing soil testing kits, motorbikes, and smartphones to extension officers.
Irrigation infrastructure saw major expansion, from 561,383 hectares in 2020 to 983,466 hectares in 2024, with the government targeting 1.2 million hectares upon project completion.
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