NSSF, PPF to start growing sugarcane for sugar factory

Morogoro. Two pension funds will start growing sugarcane to cover 3,000 acres in Kilosa as preparation for raw materials for Mkulazi II sugar factory expected to produce 50 tonnes of sugar per year.

The project is part of a larger project implemented by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and PPF Pensions Fund in the region.

Mkulazi I is being implemented in Ngerengere, Morogoro Rural and aims at producing 200,000 tonnes of sugar per year and employing more than 100,000 in the first phase.

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa visited Mkulazi II at Mbigiri Prison, Dakawa, and demonstrated sugarcane planting as a sign of supporting the pension funds in their industrialisation effort.

He called on members of the public, especially the youth, to show patriotism by volunteering in supporting efforts, which aimed at solving the problem of youth unemployment and boost the country’s economy.

“I commend the productive move by our social security schemes. The youth should volunteer in various existing industrial projects as a way of supporting accomplishment of these projects, which will result in their own development as the projects will create job opportunities,’’ he said.

He said this after witnessing six graduates from different regions, who camped under trees in Mbigiri to support the construction of the factory for free in various stages of factory construction, including designs and artwork.

“These are an example of patriots and I promise to convey their greetings to President John Magufuli to let him know how young patriots received positively his message of industrialisation,” he stressed.

Mkulazi Holding Company, which was jointly formed by both NSSF and PPF, is implementing two projects.

The company’s chairman who is also the NSSF director general, Prof Godius Kahyarara, and his PPF counterpart William Erio assured the government, members of the schemes and other stakeholders that the implementation was in good progress.

“We have already got a contractor for the construction of the sugar plant as we keep on planting canes. The goal is to plant 3,000 acres of sugarcane by December this year and this assignment has already created at least 150 jobs to residents of Mbigiri and other nearby villages,’’ Prof Kahyarara said, adding that the project would also include the generation of 8MW.

Tanzania sugar production is estimated at 300,000 tonnes per year, while demand is about 600,000 tonnes.