Sweet Newsletter Vol. 2. No.2 , By Ethiopian Sugar Corporation

Quarterly Newsletter Published by Sugar Corporation Communication Directorate, :+251-(0)11-552-7475/6322 : +251-(0)11-515-1283 : 20034 Code 1000 A.A [email protected]

VISION ፡To create sugar industries competitive enough at international level based on a sustainable growth pattern

WORLD AIDS DAY NATIONALLY MARKED AT METAHARA SUGAR FACTORY

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Out growers’ associations to work hand-in-glove with Wonji Shoa Sugar Factory

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SUGAR CORPORATION TO ACHIEVE 70 % OF ITS GTP

Sugar Corporation would achieve 70 % of its Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP) through commencing sugar production in seven

among its factories most under construction.

Accordingly, the first phase of Tendaho Sugar Factory which

is on completion is expected to enter production in the current Ethiopian budget year (2006) while second phase Tendaho, Beles 1 and 2, Kuraz 1, Kessem

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Wonji Shoa Sugar Factory and sugar cane out grower farmers’ associations held a week long discussions from 16-23 November, 2013 on ways of advancing their mutual benefits. The first round discussion was held from16-22 November with representatives of farmers and associations of sugar cane development

Inside PageWonji/Shoa, Fincha sugar factories enter production with high production capacity ›› P . 2

Metahra Sugar Factory resumes production after serious overhauling work ›› P . 3

The 25th World AIDS Day nationally marked at Metahara Sugar Factory on 1st December, 2013.

The Day was marked under the theme: “Let’s achieve the renaissance of our country by discharging our responsibility for zero HIV infection.”

President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Dr. Mulatu Teshome, Minister of Health Dr. Keseteberhan

Members of the out-growers associations attending the discussion

Mr. Shiferaw Jarso addressing participants of the world AIDS Day

Sweet Vol. 2 No. 2 December, 2013Newsletter

Communities become active participants in sugar development activitiesSugar Corporation has said communities residing around new sugar development project areas are becoming active participants in realizing the projects.

Deputy Director General of the Corporation’s Public Organization Division, Mr. Damene Darota, in an interview with Sweet Newsletter, said communities residing around sugar

* A roadmap indicating goals to be reached in production of sugar and by-products is set

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S w e e t N e w s l e t t e r

Wonji Shoa, Fincha sugar factories enter production with high production capacity

Wonji Shoa and Fincha sugar factories have successfully started their regular work with high production capacity as of October, 2013 after completing their expansion project. The expansion work has significantly upgraded the production capacity of the factories while it at the same time has expanded their cane cultivation land.

Accordingly, Fincha Sugar Factory is expected to produce 2 million quintals of sugar in the current (2006) Ethiopian budget year. The amount has additional 900 thousand quintals when compared to the factory’s previous best production record. When it reaches its full production capacity, Fincha Sugar Factory is expected to produce 2.7 million quintals of sugar annually. The cane cultivation land expansion work of the factory will at last enable the factory acquire 21,000 hectares of land covered with cane.

Similarly the expansion work that had been undertaken to replace the aged Wonji and Shoa sugar factories has come

into its completion enabling the new sugar mill start its regular sugar production as of October, 2013. These two old factories were in production for over half a century and altogether had a capacity of producing 750 thousand quintals of sugar a year.

The new and modern Wonji Shoa Sugar Factory is expected to produce 950 thousand quintals of sugar in the current Ethiopian budget year alone. The factory through its agricultural expansion project has planned to uplift its cane cultivation land from 7,000 to 16,000 hectares and currently has more than 11,000 hectares of land covered with cane.

When going operational at its full capacity in its first phase, the new Wonji Shoa Sugar Factory is expected to produce close to 1.5 million quintals of sugar per annum which in the long run will develop to 2.7 million quintals.

In a related story, Metahara Sugar Factory which has been undergoing overhauling during the winter season

has also started its regular production after successfully completing its serious overhauling work. The Factory has begun its production as of last October with a plan of producing 1.3 million quintals of sugar in the current budget year.

The completion of the first phase of the newly built Tendaho Sugar Factory is in pipe line to commence production in the current Ethiopian budget year.

Sugar Corporation has planned to produce over 5 million quintals of sugar from the four factories in this Ethiopian budget year. The amount is more than double compared to that of the previous budget year and will help the nation meet the domestic demand doing away with import of sugar spending large amount of foreign currency.

The commitment of the leadership and the workers at large has contributed to the growth in production of sugar.

The New Wonji Shoa Sugar Factory

Quarterly Newsletter of Ethiopian Sugar Corporation

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Metahra Sugar Factory resumes production after serious overhauling work

Metahara Sugar Factory has resumed production after its serious overhauling work undertaken at a cost of over 400 million Birr was successfully completed.

The overhauling work has been carried out for 14 weeks with a firm commitment of the leadership and the workers of the Factory.

General Manager of the Factory Mr. Zenebe Yimam said the government has allocated the necessary budget for the overhauling work of the Factory. He also appreciated the workers for their active participation on the job that was successfully accomplished. With a special attention the government has attached to the factory’s overhauling, aged machineries were overhauled importing inputs necessary for the job, he further added.

It was noted that workers have contributed additional one hour free service each day during the 14 week overhauling work and saved 4.5 million Birr by doing so.

According to Metahara Sugar Factory Public Organization, Public Relations and Social Affairs Department, workers have expressed their satisfaction in the coordinated effort witnessed in the process of the overhauling work of the factory which they said should be kept up during the factory’s regular production period too.

Sugar factories undertake regular overhauling work at the end of every year’s production period.

The New Wonji Shoa Sugar Factory

Metahara Sugar Factory

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SUGAR CORPORATION TO ...

Out growers’ associations...

and Arjo Didessa sugar factories would commence production in 2007 E.C. On the other hand, Wolkait, Beles 3, as well as Kuraz 2 and 3 sugar factories are expected to enter production in the first year of the second chapter GTP which is in 2008 E.C.

The Corporation has assessed its three years performance in the GTP to identify where it can reach in the remaining period of the five year plan and thereby confirmed that 70 % of the high case scenario in sugar development sector can be achieved.

The five year GTP of the sugar sector eyes building 10 new sugar factories, upgrading the capacity of the existing ones as well as bringing the already started two-phased construction of Tendaho Sugar Factory into its completion to benefit the nation from the high potential it has for sugar development. In spite of the absence of infrastructure in new sugar project areas, insufficient financial provision for the sector and limited implementation capacity when the GTP work was commenced, the result that is being registered is encouraging.

The achievement obtained in the midst of those strong challenges is an indicative of the possibility to become among top countries of the world in sugar production within a short period of time.

Wonji Showa and Fincha Sugar Factories have already resumed production with a better capacity after their expansion project was successfully completed.

The nation’s average annual sugar production capacity which was 232 thousand tons until the end of 2005 E.C. is expected to reach over one million and 585 thousand tons by the end of 2007 E.C. The amount will be more than the domestic need of sugar and enables the country to export the product.

The Corporation is carrying out a vast sugar cane plantation activity to cover 149,790 hectares of land in sugar development projects areas and generally plant 204 thousand hectares of land with sugar cane in existing sugar factories as well as in the sugar development projects.

The Corporation would create over 92 thousand additional job opportunities in the 2006 and 2007 E.C. Communities in the new sugar development project areas are benefiting directly and indirectly from the job opportunities created by the projects.

Sugar Corporation has now reached a stage of saving the foreign currency the nation was using to import sugar and is eying to earn 376 million USD annually by starting export of sugar as of 2007 E.C.Alongside the sugar development, the Corporation is working to generate 197MW energy at the end of the GTP period. It is also working to produce over 134 thousand cubic meters of ethanol at the stated period, enabling the nation to reduce its foreign currency expense for importing petroleum products.Sugar Corporation is also undertaking construction of 3,265 houses for residence, service delivery and other related purposes in 2006 and 2007 E.C.The roadmap indicating sugar development goals to be reached in the GTP was prepared in October, 2013.

districts and kebeles from East Showa and Arsi zones of the Oromia Regional State.

The discussions that had been carried out at various levels were summarized on 23

November, 2013 at Aba Geda Hall in Adama town and was attended by Deputy Chief of State of the Oromia Regional State and Head of the Civil Service Bureau Mr. Abdulaziz Mohammed, Officials of Sugar

Corporation, leaders of sugar cane out growers farmers’ associations, farmers, administrators of East Showa and Arsi zones as well as Adama, Boset and Dodota districts and 581 out growers’

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representatives.On the occasion, Public Organization Division Deputy Director General of Sugar Corporation Mr. Damene Darota presented a paper titled: “Development implementation challenges and rent seeking attitude reflected on the relationship of Wonji/Showa Sugar Factory and sugar cane out grower farmers’ associations.” Mr. Damene in his paper pointed out challenges affecting smooth relations of the Factory and the associations and also suggested recommendations that would help deal with them. Accordingly, static price of sugar cane, infrastructure limitations, lower productivity of canes due to lack of proper nurturing, poor work culture unmatched with the ongoing development effort, shortage of irrigation provision and lack of insurance were among challenges the Deputy Director General mentioned.

The Deputy Director General in his paper recommended the need to ensure transparent system for service delivery. He also recommended strengthening capacity building works, reforming the working system, having insurance coverage in place, reinforcing the support of

stakeholders and coordinated working system, among others.

Leaders and members of the sugar cane out growers’ associations on their part raised issues they said need to be addressed. Improvement for the price of sugar cane they produce and deliver, speedy service delivery in relation to irrigation, fertilizers, pesticides and other services, are among some of the issues raised by the associations.

Officials of Sugar Corporation stated that the discussion forum was organized to identify issues raised as a concern by both the Factory and sugar cane out grower farmers’ associations and address them to mutually benefit both parties. The officials disclosed readiness of the Corporation for price negotiation that takes all sugar production cost into account. They said the factory would work to address limitations observed in service delivery and urged the farmers to consider the factory as their own and the nation’s property.

The officials also called on the factory and the associations to follow ways that best ensure mutual development through continued dialogue and close working atmosphere.

Deputy Chief of Oromia State, Abdulaziz in his concluding remark urged administrators of the East Showa and Arsi zones, district administrators, leadership of the Factory and the associations and unions as well as their members to work in harmony for the success of sugar development that has significant place in the nation’s development. He underscored the community should develop a sense of ownership for the factory and for the relations of the two to be based on transparency and speedy service delivery.

On the conclusion of the discussions, representatives of the leaders at various levels, administrators, sugar cane out growers associations’ leaders and members, union leaders and members as well as leaders and employees of the Factory have read joint statement to work in harmony to ensure the benefit of all parties.

They have vowed to join hands and address challenges encountering them through dialogue cognizant of the sugar development as a sector that helps change the lives of the farmers and its significance to the nation’s multifaceted development effort.

Sugar Corporation officials holding discussion with out-growers associations

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የስኳር ልማት በሚካሄድባቸው አካባቢዎች የሚገኙ ነዋሪዎች የልማቱ ተዋናዮች እየሆኑ ነው

Communities become active participants in ...

development areas are becoming beneficiaries from various infrastructures and community service centers built by the corporation. Cognizant of the fact that they are beneficiaries of the sugar development projects, the communities are becoming active participants in realizing the sector’s goal set for the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP).

Damene said the corporation highly values public participation and consensus in undertaking sugar development activities. That is why the Corporation has been making thorough discussions with communities residing in and around project areas before their commencement, he further added.

As a result of successive discussions that have been held with communities, a sense of ownership for the sugar development projects that led to active participation and cooperation is being developed. In some areas, community members are participating in cane plantation to give free service, Mr. Damene said.

The government had from the outset considered the benefit of communities dwelling in and around the new sugar development projects when it embarked upon the GTP in sugar development sector. In this regard, activities carried out so far have practically ensured government’s plan to make the communities the primary beneficiaries, he said.

Mr. Damene dismissed allegations by some foreign media and the so called environment protection groups that the government is displacing local communities in South Omo Zone and other places owing to sugar development projects.

“We are working for the people. We do not undertake development projects the people

is not convinced about and not benefiting from,” Damene said.

He made clear that the allegation concerning forceful displacement by government in South Omo is a campaign by those who do not want the transformation of the pastoralists’ life. The pastoralists are requesting for speedy execution of the project as a result of understanding the irrigation facilities and social service centers being built in the areas.

According to Damene, all the necessary compensations are being made for those who move to common villages due to the inception of sugar development projects where they would be provided with basic infrastructures and social service centers they had been denied for long.

The campaign against Wolkait Sugar Development Project that had been underway for some time claiming it would destroy the Waldiba Monastery is now totally proved baseless by the people around and others living elsewhere. The community has learned that the sugar development project has no negative effect on the Monastery and rather benefits the community. Damene said the community is now extending support for the sugar development project including those who were misled by the baseless allegations.

“More than 60 thousand job opportunities were created for citizens in sugar development projects in 2005 . The Corporation will strive to create more jobs while it is also working hard to attain the goal set on the GTP”, Mr. Damene underscored.

Sugar cane development is part of the green growth economy that would play a significant role in environment protection, he noted.


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WORLD AIDS DAY NATIONALLY...

Admasu, Director General of Sugar Corporation with the rank of Minister Mr. Shiferaw Jarso, Deputy Chief of the Oromia Regional State Mr. Abdulaziz Mohammed and other invited guests were present at the event.

On the occasion, President Mulatu stressed the need to work toward zero HIV infection by giving special attention to mega development projects and higher education institutions where there is large number of workforces. The President said HIV positive persons have to get access to Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) services and play their role in the ongoing development

effort of their country.

The president also urged youths working in mega projects like Metahara Sugar Factory and other development institutions to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS.

Director General of Sugar Corporation with the rank of Minister, Mr. Shiferaw Jarso on his part said the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS has strong impact in achieving the missions of mega institutions like Sugar Corporation which has large number of human resource due to the sector’s nature of work. He further said that the Corporation is undertaking

various HIV prevention and control mechanisms including supporting and caring services to 2,100 HIV positive employees of the Corporation and also children who due to HIV/AIDS lost their parents who had been staffs of the Corporation.

Mr. Shiferaw stated the Corporation has formed HIV/AIDS taskforce for prevention and caring activities and allocated two percent of the institution’s annual budget for the cause.The Director General said the Corporation needs to do more owing to the vulnerability of the sugar development sector.

While World AIDS Day was marked at Metahara Sugar Factory

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Employees of Sugar Corporation have expressed their support to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) while visiting the Dam’s Construction at Guba site in Benishangul Gumuz Regional State.

The employees made the visit in the months of October and November, 2013 under the motto: “We strive for the success of Renaissance Dam alongside the Sugar Development.”

During the two round visits, the employees expressed their happiness in the Dam’s construction activity and reaffirmed readiness to continue their support.

On the occasion, General Manager of GERD construction project, Engineer Simegnew Bekele in his written message appreciated the employees for visiting the project. He also expressed his hope that the employees would be happy by what they have seen at the construction site.

Simegnew called upon the visiting employees of the corporation to join hands for the success

of various projects undergoing throughout the country and thereby realize prosperous Ethiopia.

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is expected to have an installed capacity of generating six thousand megawatt electric power. It catapults the current power capacity of the country by three fold.

On their way, the employees also visited sheik Hojele al Hasan’s (the great leader of the Berta nationality) Court Room and Cemetery, which are located in Asosa Town, the capital of Benishangul Gumuz Regional State.

In the two round visits to GERD construction site, a total of 457 employees of the Corporation have participated. Among them, 76 are from the Corporation’s head office, 300 from Tana Beles Sugar Development Project, 39 from Fincha Sugar Factory and 42 from Wonji Shoa Sugar Factory.

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is expected to be the largest in Africa at its capacity.

Employees of the Corporation Express Support for GERD

Visiting employees cheering at the progress of the construction


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Saburie town, found arround Kessem Sugar Development Pro-ject area in Afar Regional State, is benefiting from infrastructures built for the sugar development.

The town named after a French investor was established in 1912 and has now become beneficiary of roads, mobile telephone, wire-less broadband internet as well

as 24 hours electricity. The rural town established fol-lowing fruits and vegetables development by the above mentioned French investor and later expanded along with the inception of Upper Awash Agro Industry had no much access to infrastructures since then.

The fact that Saburei has started

benefiting from modern infras-tructures would significantly contribute to its endeavor to see speedy growth and is seen as its rebirth by its residents, the report of Kessem Sugar De-velopment Project Public Rela-tions unit discloses. Saburie is found some 222 k.m. from Addis Ababa.

Employees of the Corporation Express Support for GERD Saburei town benefiting from sugar development

Wonji Showa Sugar Factory employees set up HIV/AIDS fund

Employees of Wonji Showa Sugar Factory have set up HIV/AIDS prevention and support fund in a bid to permanently support HIV positive colleagues and orphans due to HIV/AIDS.

The support fund was set up on 14 December, 2013 in a discussion forum held between employees and the Factory’s leadership while marking the 25th HIV/AIDS Day at Factory level.

During the discussion, the employees have willingly agreed to permanently contribute 0.5 percent of their salary for HIV/AIDS prevention and support cause being underway in the Factory.

On the occasion, General Manager of Wonji Showa Sugar Factory, Ato Atakilti Tesfay appreciated the employees for taking the initiative to set up the care and support fund for the cause.

Sugar Corporation’s HIV/AIDS Prevention Coordinator W/r Kasech Shibeshi presented a paper on HIV/AIDS prevention

and support activities undertaken by the Corporation.

On the event, the Factory has made a support of 13,800 Birr to 46 children lost their parents due to HIV/AIDS.

The factory’s leadership, employees, and East Showa Health Bureau representative have attended the event.

It is to be noted that Fincha Sugar Factory had already established such a fund and is supporting 20 children who had lost their parents due to HIV/AIDS. The fund is financed by employees’ contribution and the factory’s budget allocated every year.

Employees discussing to set up the fund

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A ceremony that seen off Mr. Abay Tsehaye who had served Sugar Corporation as Director General with the rank of Minister since its establishment in 2010 and welcomed the new Director General with the rank Minister Mr. Shiferaw Jarso in October, 2013.

Quarterly Newsletter Published by Communication Directorate

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Sweet Newsletter

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Sweet Newsletter Vol. 2. No.2 , By Ethiopian Sugar Corporation

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