Mozambique may not reach the 2009 projected sugar output despite the increase in production of the commodity, the state-run Agricultural Promotion Centre (CEPAGRI) said on Friday.
CEPAGRI said sugar output in the third quarter was 163,885 tonnes, a significant increase from the second quarter which was just 39,186 tonnes.
“The year 2009 that is taking place at this moment is forecasting a drastic reduction of production compared to the originally planned or even registered last year,” CEPAGRI said in its report issued on Friday.
Mozambique had projected its sugar output to rise by 68 percent to 419,208 tonnes this year, up from last year’s 250,191 tonnes. CEPAGRI said output in 2009 could be 329,148 tonnes.
“The efforts made by the sugar sector in order to increase production through the expansion of production areas and improvement of agricultural incomes and, furthermore, expansion of factories and or improve their skills processing, may result in failure at least in this campaign,” the organization said.
Currently the sugar produced in Mozambique is sold on the domestic market and the European Union (EU) as part of the ACP/EU “Everything But Arms” Initiative, but the government is opening up new markets such as Egypt, the Seychelles and Indonesia.
Source African Press Agency
