In what can be described as a giant leap towards achieving the much lauded Agricultural Revolution in Niger State, the Government has just signed a Memorandum of Understanding with 3 Companies for Sugarcane cultivation and Sugar production in the State.
The M.O.U signed at the Government House Minna, between Uttham Sucrotech International, Rite Foods Ltd, Legacy Sugar Company Ltd on one hand, and Niger Foods, is a three-year, 148,000 hectares project that will see to the establishment of 6 Sugar Mills in Niger State with 4 to be located between Shiroro and Minna.
Each of the 6 Sugar Factory is estimated to have a capacity of 5000 to 15000 (TCD) tonnes of Sugarcane crushed per day, producing the likes of Sugar, Ethanol and Power (Clean Energy).
A yearly projection of 1.6 million tonnes of Sugar and 1.45 million tonnes of Ethanol is expected, boosting domestic food production and Exports.
In addition to improving food security in the State and the quality of life of the people, the project also perfectly aligns with the Government’s Green Economy Initiative, with Ethanol blending with fuel reducing the carbon footprint in the State.
There is also the added option of lighting up the State through Green and Clean Energy, furthering the State’s industrialization drive. The out-grower and off-taker component of the agreement will encourage community participation in the program, which will further the cause of poverty alleviation by creating jobs, skills acquisitions, trainings, etc.
The community participation component is one that will be particularly interesting to achieve, as it will greatly alter the fortunes of the local communities through the creation of jobs, raising household and family incomes, skills building, trainings and capacity buildings, vocational trainings, entrepreneurship, education and healthcare, amongst others.
The end product of Refined Sugar, to be packed in 50kg bags and packaged for distribution in Niger State and Nigeria, will be Vitamin A Fortified, as per World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines.Other key benefits of this program to the State include;
1. The production and provision, by Uttham Sucrotech Company, of 110,000 out growers and other by-products of sugarcane such as refined ethanol, power, and cattle feeds among others.
2. The channeling of a soon-to-be approved billion dollar sovereign guarantee fund to the Sugar Project, further solidifying the State’s agricultural revolution.
3. The project would also empower local farmers for self-sufficiency.
4. Introduction of the best technology for the sugar plants, utilizing Niger State’s potential capacity to produce the required litres of ethanol in the country.
5. Harvesting of the excess water released from Shiroro Dam for the sugar Mills, further harnessing the State’s hydro potentials.
6. The provision of an off-take program of 145 million litres of ethanol from the Sugar plant, with each benefitting Farmer making between 5 and 6 million Naira revenue every year.
7. The initiative has the added benefit of reducing the pressure on the dollar, while increasing community growth and development.
8. The initiative will bring prosperity to the people and go a long way in eliminating social vices and idleness amongst the youths. The agreement will further serve as an avenue for providing an enabling environment for investments in the State and open doors of opportunities to the citizenry.In this age of industrialization, it is pertinent for sub-national entities to use and utilize all resources at their disposal to ensure the development and prosperity of the people. One such area that Niger State has in abundance is agricultural land spanning thousands of kilometres.
With these and other initiatives already in place, the Governor Bago administration has clearly shown its willingness and desire to harness the blessings of the earth for Niger State’s prosperity.
