Tanzanian sisal company sees steady growth

The Managing Director of a Tanzanian sisal company, Katani Limited, said production of sisal fibre has risen from 870 tons fiber in 2005 to 950 tons last year.

Mr. Salum Shamte said this year production reached 1,100 tons of fibre by August. Shamte attributed the production rise to bold decision taken by the company including establishment of smallholder sisal farming in its five estates.

Planting of new sisal has increased from 637 hectares in 2004 to 720 hectares in 2005 and 810 ha last year, the company Operation Manager, Mrs. Jedida Lwali revealed, adding that a total of 600 hectares of new sisal were planted by August this year.

She also said production of fibre byproducts as sisal yarn, ropes, carpets, door marts, bags and buffing cloth at a subsidiary company, Tanzania Cordage Industries (TANCORD), at Ngomeni Ward in Muheza District has been growing steadily from 2,200 tons in 2005 to 2,720 tons last year.

The speed of planting new sisal has largely been triggered by attractive prices and a rising demand on the world market.

But lack of special agricultural financial credit institutions that would offer long-term credit to sisal and other agricultural producers is still a stumbling block to further development of sisal and agricultural production in general.

IPP Media