THE government needs to hand over the management and ownership of tea farms and factories to more capable investors, while smallholder farmers to be involved in that process, a parliamentary committee has resolved.

Deodatus Mwanyika (Njombe Urban), chairman of the Industry, Trade, Agriculture and Livestock standing committee of the National Assembly, issued this appeal in presenting the committee’s annual report for 2024.

The report particularly focused on the management of tea farms and factories, urging the government to swiftly conclude discussions with investors who have struggled to manage the sector.

The committee similarly voiced dissatisfaction with the slow progress of establishing authorities to oversee the development of the livestock and fisheries sectors.

He said the government needs to prioritise completing the remaining steps to ensure these authorities are functional and can fulfill their intended roles.

The committee listed five resolutions for consideration of the legislature, stressing that this would boost the production of sugar and edible oils, given concerns about insufficient local output.

Pointing at significant challenges tied to sugar supply shortage, leading to supply delays and rising prices, urging the government to intensify efforts to attract investments in sugar factories.

The committee also stressed the importance of empowering the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) to purchase, store and distribute sugar during times of shortages.

Strategies that will ensure sufficient local sugar production, reducing the country’s dependence on imports are needed, with by-products such as electricity and methanol produced from sugar being equally attractive, he said.

The government also needs to improve infrastructure like rural roads and irrigation systems for smallholder sugarcane farms, to ease transportation challenges. 

Investments in local industrial sugar production would be a critical step forward, while in addition to sugar, the committee raised concerns about the shortage of edible oil in the market.

The scarcity stems from the decline in sunflower cultivation, as many farmers ceased production due to the lack of guaranteed markets for their crops, compelling reliance on imports said to sell at high prices, the committee affirmed.

The MPs sought that the government needs to promote local edible oil factories, reducing reliance on imports and ensuring food security.

There is need for a review of incentives for local oil producers to address the challenges faced by sunflower farmers, with producer prices being adjusted to make the crop more attractive to farmers, he added.