Sunday, May 22, 2022
  • About Us
  • ImagiNATION
  • Adverts
  • Rate Card
  • Contact Us
The Nation Online
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Business Business News

Sugarcane value chainsunderutilised—growers

by Steve Chilundu
29/09/2020
in Business News
3 min read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on LinkedinLinkedinShare via Email

Sugarcane Growers Association of Malawi (Sugam) says sugarcane value chains are being underutilised to benefit the nation in a positive way.
Sugam president Frighton Njolomole said this in an interview on the sidelines of the fourth Sugam annual general meeting (AGM) held on Friday in Salima to take stock of the association’s operations for the past year.


He said it remains a loss because people regard sugarcane as merely for sugar production, but it also produces ethanol, methylated spirit, electricity, manure and many more products that if well maximised can boost economic growth.

Njolomole (L) and Sugam executive secretary
Geoffrey Nkata during the AGM


Njolomole said countries such as Brazil depend on sugarcane for the large-scale production of ethanol, among others, that contributes largely to the economy.
He said: “We are failing to maximise sugarcane value chains, we need strategies to invite investors to produce, for instance, more ethanol to be used as flexi motor vehicle fuel with 70 percent ethanol and 30 percent petrol and save on fuel imports.


“We can also generate electricity that can be channelled into the national grid and help solve electricity challenges. These are among economic benefits from sugarcane that are largely neglected in Malawi.”


Njolomole said despite sugar being the second major foreign exchange earner after tobacco, sugarcane as a crop is not legally protected just like tobacco which has an Act and well regulated with a oversight authority.
He called on government to consider fast-tracking the crafting of the Sugar Bill to legally guide investment, production and marketing of the crop in the country.
Njolomole said companies are exploiting sugarcane farmers because there is no law that governs the sugar sector.


On his part, Minister of Agriculture Lobin Lowe said government was working on the Sugar Bill to ensure the sector was sanitised for the benefit of players in the industry and the economy.
Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM) chief executive officer Jacob Nyirongo commended Sugam for the AGM, saying it shows good governance and pledged support to ensure a common voice to promote the sugar industry.


He said FUM is available to support sugar cane growers to ensure that they speak out on issues that affect them, including linking them to suppliers of inputs offered on better conditions.
“We work with sugar cane growers on issues such as agribusiness and market access,” he said. n

Previous Post

Phalombe council ends 204 child marriages

Next Post

Govt defiant on board appointments

Related Posts

Gwengwe: Closing the gap requires two things
Business News

World Bank sees widened fiscal deficit

May 21, 2022
Malga wants central government to share revenue from this facility with the respective council
Business News

RFA, Malga disagree on toll gates revenue

May 21, 2022
A consumer loading prepaid electricity credit whose 
tariffs have been revised
Business News

Cama wants electricity tariffs reduced

May 21, 2022
Next Post
Kazako: You have to leave a legacy

Govt defiant on board appointments

Opinions and Columns

Layman's Reflection

New IMF programme pivotal moment for Tonse Alliance

May 21, 2022
Family Table Talk

Historical lessons on the value of forgetting

May 21, 2022
My Diary

Politics of ‘kutola chikwama’

May 21, 2022
Bottom Up

Ukraine war: Sanctions backfire?

May 21, 2022

Trending Stories

  • Mhango in action for Pirates before things turned sour

    Gaba comes up with two options

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Malawi’s public debt now at K5.8 tn

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Onesimus leaves Major One Records

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • AG urges cancellation of Movesa no. plate deal

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • RFA, Malga disagree on toll gates revenue

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Malawi-Music.com Top10

  • Values
  • Our Philosophy
  • Editorial policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Code of Conduct
  • Plagiarism disclaimer
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use

© 2022 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation

© 2020 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.