Nigeria to Achieve Self-Sufficiency in Sugar Production – NSDC

News in brief:

-NSDC says its sugarcane outgrower programme is gaining strong practical support from farmers and investors.

-Modern seedcane technology and guaranteed offtake arrangements are driving confidence in local sugar production.

The Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Kamar Bakrin, has said Nigeria is steadily moving towards self-sufficiency in domestic sugar production, driven by growing participation in the Sugarcane Outgrower Development Programme (SODP).

Bakrin made this known in an interview, noting that the response from stakeholders since the launch of the programme reflects increasing confidence in the country’s sugar sector reforms.

According to him, the level of engagement goes beyond expressions of interest, with participants demonstrating readiness to invest and operate within the programme’s framework.

Farmers Integrated into Sugar Value Chain

Bakrin explained that the programme is designed to integrate farmers directly into Nigeria’s sugar value chain through guaranteed offtake arrangements, access to improved seedcane, farm inputs and continuous technical support.

He stressed that farmers should not be left to operate without market certainty, adding that structured support remains essential for sustainable sugarcane production.

The NSDC boss said the programme has progressed from policy formulation to active implementation, particularly in communities located near existing sugar estates where infrastructure and processing capacity already exist.

Seedcane Innovation Reduces Production Timelines

Addressing concerns around the availability of planting materials, Bakrin said the council has established dedicated seedcane farms across strategic locations.

He disclosed that modern bud chip technology is being deployed through the Nigeria Sugar Institute, significantly reducing the sugarcane development cycle.

According to him, the technology has the potential to shorten project timelines by between 12 and 18 months, allowing farmers to achieve quicker productivity and returns.

Nigeria Sugar Institute Repositioned for Long-Term Growth

Bakrin further noted that ongoing reforms at the Nigeria Sugar Institute have repositioned it as a national centre of excellence for sugar research and capacity development.

He said the institute now plays a critical role in providing training, research support and technical expertise required to drive Nigeria’s long-term ambition of sugar self-sufficiency.