The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) has presented high-yielding sugarcane seed to the Golden Sugar Company Ltd (GSC) located in Sunti of Niger state ahead of the 2024/2025 planting season.
The Executive Secretary of NSDC, Mr Kamar Bakrin, said this in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday.
Bakrin, represented by the Director/Interim Coordinator of NSI, Dr Abiodun Adeyemo, presented the 500 stalks (2500 sugarcane sett) to the company at Nigeria Sugar Institute (NSI), Ilorin.
He emphasised the significance of high-performing sugarcane varieties and expressed his commitment to boosting sugarcane production by offering valuable assistance to the sugar estates.
The presentation is part of efforts to empower sugar operators.
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It aims to enable them to step up production and support the implementation of the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) II especially, the attainment of self-sufficiency in sugar production.
According to Bakrin, NSI is the training arm of the NSDC to provide technical support to sugar estates; and conduct research and capacity development for staff of the sugar estates.
He said it aimed to 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.
“NSDC, through NSI, is committed to boosting sugarcane production by offering valuable assistance to the sugar estates,” he said.
The executive secretary acknowledged that NSI had donated some planting materials to Dangote Sugar Company in Numan before.
“He said that this was the first practical demonstration of its commitment to support the Sugar Industries under the present leadership of NSDC/NSI.
Bakrin said that some seed canes would be donated to Golden Sugar Company, Sunti, for multiplication.
“We have provided a promising sugarcane variety, R579.
“A total of 500 stalks have been carefully selected and packaged to about 2,500 setts. These will be handed over to the company’s representatives,” he said.
The NSDC boss urged the Company to ensure that the best agronomic practices were 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.
Responding, the Agriculture Manager at GSC, Mr Herman Smith, thanked the coordinator for the seed cane for multiplication from NSI germplasm.
