How Tanzania can benefit from locally produced sunflower seeds

The government’s strategy to produce sunflower seeds locally will address the shortage and high prices incurred by farmers, according to the Tanzania Sunflower Processors Association (Tasupa) chairman, Mr Ringo Iringo.

He said the surplus merchandise would be exported to neighbouring countries and that increased sunflower production will enable the country to sustain itself in edible oil supplies.

Mr Iringo was yesterday reacting to the establishment of a demo-farm in Chemba District, Dodoma Region, for production of better seeds that would be sold to farmers in Tanzania.

He said a kilo of imported hybrid sunflower seeds is sold at between Sh30,000 and Sh35,000, while locally produced variety was sold at between Sh4,500 and Sh6,500.

“Tanzanian farmers prefer locally produced seeds which are, however, not readily available. Therefore, through demo-farms, farmers will get seeds at lower prices,” he said in a telephone interview.

Mr Iringo said that, once the domestic market is saturated with better seeds, the surplus would be sold to neighbouring countries such as Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Kenya who are also investing in the crop production.

Tanzania’s annual demand for cooking oil stands at about 650,000 tonnes, while its production capacity is only 290,000 tonnes.

The Citizen

Tags: demand, Tanzania, edible oil, sunflower seeds, capacity, Production