Cottage Sugar Industries as Alternatives for Meeting Nigeria's Domestic Sugar Demands

The sugar industry in Nigeria has failed to meet the domestic sugar consumption demands of the country. The combined production figure of the two major sugar companies at Bacita and Numan stands at less than 1% of the requirement. Inconsistent government policies, uncontrolled sugar imports and the capital-intensive nature of large-scale sugar production could all account for this inadequate production level. The National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) has developed a 10 tonnes of cane per day (tcd) mini brown sugar plant suitable for cottage level sugar production to complement the large-scale plants' efforts. Outgrower schemes currently operated by the Nigerian Sugar Company, Bacita and the Savannah Sugar Company, Numan are potential sources of the raw materials needed by these cottage industries when established in all the sugar cane-growing communities of Nigeria. Newly opened up farm areas of up to 100,000 ha will also provide canes for the plants. This paper presents some of the problems militating against profitable sugar production by large-scale sugar plants in Nigeria. It also highlights areas of cooperation and support by policy makers and other stakeholders in the sugar industry for increased domestic sugar production. This will facilitate the attainment of domestic sugar self-sufficiency, rural industrialization, social and food security.