NSDC donates seed cane to sugar company

The National Sugar Development Council has presented high-yielding seed cane to the Golden Sugar Company Ltd, Niger state, ahead of the 2024 /2025 planting season.

This presentation was made as part of efforts to empower sugar operators to step up production and support the implementation of the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan II especially the attainment of self-sufficiency in sugar production.

The sugarcane variety which was requested by the GSC was presented to the company at the Nigeria Sugar Institute, Ilorin.

Making the presentation of five hundred 500 stalks (2500 sugarcane sett) to the GSC on behalf of the Executive Secretary/CEO of the NSDC, Mr. Kamar Bakrin, the Director/Interim Coordinator of NSI, Dr. Abiodun Adeyemo, emphasized the significance of high performing sugar cane varieties.

He added that the council is committed to boosting sugar cane production by offering valuable assistance to the sugar estates.

He reminded the gathering that the NSI was established as the training arm of the NSDC to provide technical support to sugar estates; conduct research and capacity development for staff of the sugar estates;
train and develop manpower for the sugar industry, and provide support for increased local sugar production through the supply of promising planting materials.

“The significance of high-performing sugarcane varieties cannot be overemphasised. They are characterised by: higher sugarcane yield, resistance to diseases and pests, lower production costs, and promote environmentally friendly practices, thereby transforming the landscape of the sugar industry.

“This initiative demonstrates our zeal towards achieving the objectives of NSMP II and it is certainly one of the major solutions to addressing the challenges of low yield. I, therefore, encourage you to ensure that the best agronomic practices are strictly followed to complement the yield potential of this variety.

“We need to do all we can, to catalyse the process of yield improvement. Thus, the collection of this variety by GSC for evaluation in their environment will be of immense benefit to sugarcane crop improvement now and in the long term,” he said.

The Agric Manager at GSC, Herman Smith, appreciated the coordinator for the seed cane for multiplication from NSI germplasm.

The GSC Agronomy Manager, Mr M. Venkat, said they had 120 varieties in their germplasm, but they didn’t have this particular variety in their field and that they discovered that this variety has a higher yield than most of the ones they have.