Page 1 of 1

Sugar makers shift focus to local cane farmers

Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2014 11:13 pm
by Jhon Kumar
As domestic sugar demand hits a record 2 million metric tons mark, sugar investors are increasingly paying closer attention to local sugarcane farmers, who are the critical part of the value chain. Sugar makers now equip the farmers with technical support and inputs that will enable them meet ever-growing demands and end import from Brazil.

Farmers are also an integral part of sugar makers’ current huge investments on research and development (R&D), it is gathered.“Yes, I can speak for the farmers we are in partnership with in Adamawa,’’ said Graham Clark, group managing director, Dangote Sugar Refinery (DSR), in an interview with BusinessDay, saying “we assist them with technical input, in the procurement of fertiliser, in the maintenance of equipment and most importantly, guarantee them ready market.’’