STARTING next month, the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) will purchase sugar from local producers or import the commodity if it is necessary to prevent market shortages.

NFRA director general Dr. Andrew Komba said yesterday in Dar es Salaam that the agency is mandated to ensure a consistent domestic sugar supply under a standing government directive. 

“The sugar law requires us to maintain a  two-month stockpile. If NFRA detects a shortage, it will release reserves to stabilise the market,” he explained.

The government’s directive follows past sugar shortages, particularly before and during Ramadhan, when demand surges. With this year’s fasting period expected next month, NFRA is reinforcing supply measures.

“The government, under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, prioritises national food security and access to essential goods like sugar,” Dr. Komba said, adding that NFRA has long maintained substantial cereal reserves and surplus for export.

During a recent visit to Morogoro, President Samia launched   Mkulazi sugar factory, a joint venture between the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and the Prisons Service, aimed at boosting local sugar production. She noted that Tanzania typically experiences sugar shortages from March to May, causing price spikes that often necessitate imports.

Agriculture minister Hussein Bashe assured that the government, in collaboration with the private sector, will ensure stable sugar supply and urged traders to avoid price hikes.

Tanzania’s key sugar producers include Kilombero, Mtibwa, Bagamoyo, TPC Limited, and the state-owned Mkulazi factory.