Value chain in Sugarcane’ll stop sugar import, create jobs for 500,000 Nigerians, says Gov. Sule

.as VCDP commends Nasarawa for making significant impact

Nasarawa State governor, Mr. Abdullahi Sule has made case for the inclusion of sugarcane in the value chain initiative of the iFAD/FG Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), stressing that such a move will stop importation of raw sugar from Brazil.

He made his case known when he hosted a delegation led by the Country Director, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Mrs. Dede Ekoue at the Government House on Wednesday.

The Governor explained that, currently Nigeria consumes about 1.4 to 1.6 metric tones of sugar, with 96 percent imported as raw sugar from Brazil to be refined in the country’s three sugar refineries owned by Dangote, Bua and Golden Penny.

He emphasized that including sugarcane as part of the crops to be covered by the VCDP will also create employment opportunities for 500,000 people.

“Today, Nigeria consumes roughly about 1.4 to 1.6 metric tones of sugar. This quantity of sugar about 96 percent is imported as raw sugar from Brazil and refined at our three refineries that we have owned by Dangote, Bua and Golden Penny. Assuming we are going to do the entire value chain in sugarcane in Nigeria for this 1.6m metric tones. You will create employment opportunities for nothing less than 500,000 people,” he stated.

Citing Kenya as examples of countries where sugarcane value chain is producing excellent results, Governor Sule said Nigeria can tow similar line by encouraging small farmers to produce sugarcane to be taken to the three factories for crushing and sugar production.

“It is something that you can help in order to ginger some of the big companies in order to take it more seriously.  The big companies are doing their best doing what they call outgrowers scheme but it is very minimal. We have the refineries here. If we do the complete value chain, easily we can have nothing less than half a million people who are working on those farms,” he added.

He pointed out that the advantages of value chain in sugarcane are enormous and include but is not limited to power generation and animal feed production.

The Governor therefore appealed to representatives of the Federal Government handling the programme to include sugarcane aside of the cassava and rice covered by the VCDP.

While appreciating the VCDP for the successes recorded on development agricultural in the state, he assured that governors from the Northern states are working hard to support the food security initiatives of the Federal Government.

“I am happy that you are happy. From what you have seen so far, Dr. Adigizi and her team are doing a fantastic job. They are going in there, they are not producing billionaires but they are actually producing people who are now becoming more and more independent, participating in the food security initiatives of the country,” he said.

He appreciated the IFAD/FG for selecting Nasarawa State as part of the nine states covered by the VCDP.

“I want to thank you sincerely for selecting Nasarawa State. Indeed, as all of you have mentioned, we pride ourselves as an agricultural state. We joke with that. Benue is the food basket of the country. We are the food producers to put in that basket. We will continue to produce the food for that basket,” he added.

This is just as the VCDP commended Governor Sule for his commitment and leadership that is making the programme succeed by generating tremendous impact in the state.

Dede Ekoue, Country Director IFAD made the commendation following their assessment of the programme in the state.

“We visited Nasarawa considering the significant impact that have been generated here through your leadership. Thank you so much for your commitment. Through your commitment, we have been able to achieve for example, increase in agricultural production for the farmers for more than 96 percent, for the beneficiaries that are part of the programme,” she said.

She particularly appreciated the Governor the prompt payment of the counterpart funds for the programme.

“We know that we attached more than 4300 farmers. It is not only about producing raw products. It’s also about processing. We have been privileged to visit the processing centre and it is also about ensuring that we promote agriculture in a way that is also sustainable. We have been impressed with the way the women are working on the initiative of waste to wealth, transforming residue from rice production into brickets. That is really important,” she added.

Ekoue further appreciated the Governor for making financial contribution to support women and youth groups under the VCDP, aimed at empowering them and to enable the beneficiaries produce more and earn more.

She said the delegation is on its 11th Mission to the state, with experts from various countries, including Nigeria, who will help the IFAD assess the progress of the VCDP, as well as proffer actionable opportunities for more and better results.

For Dr. Fatima Aliyu, who represented the National Coordinator of the VCDP, said the purpose of the visit was to assess the performance of the programme in Nasarawa State.

Aliyu said the value chain development has been a programme that has impacted on various households and communities across the nine states participating in the programme.

“We have seen what is happening in Nasarawa State. I don’t think we made a mistake by coming to Nasarawa State.  Nasarawa State is an agrarian state and we can see what is happening in the fields. We have been seeing what is happening.  That is the reason we want to take it back to the Ministry to show our principals what is going on,” she said.

The VCDP national coordinator was optimistic that with the progress so far recorded in Nasarawa State, with the beneficiaries actually taking ownership of the programme, the sustainability of VCDP is assures.

“We want to thank you as the Country Director has said, we receive a lot of information about what the state is doing to the VCDP regarding the counterpart fund. We so much appreciate the state on the efforts so far,” she said.

Nasarawa State VCDP Coordinator, Dr. Yunis Adigidzi said the programme objective is to increase food security and reduction of rural poverty on a sustainable basis.

Adigidzi said the programme is successful in the state mostly because of the support from the state government.