Towards Achieving Sugar Self-Sufficiency in Nigeria: A Review

Sugar is produced in 120 countries with about 110 countries producing from either cane or beet, and eight countries produce sugar from both cane and beet. The global sugar production in 2020/2021 was about 179 million tonnes with Brazil as the highest producer with 42 million tonnes. Sugarcane, on average, accounts for nearly 80% of global sugar production. Nigeria’s sugar industry has always faced challenges with national sugar requirements met through imports of raw sugar for local refining. The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) was therefore set up in 1993 to catalyze the development of the sugar industry with a view to ensuring that Nigeria attains at least, 70% self-sufficiency in sugar requirement within the shortest possible time. Despite efforts by the Sugar Council, Nigeria still ranks among the top 10 sugar importing countries. The National Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) was launched in 2013 by the NSDC as a 10-year plan designed to transform the Nigerian sugar industry. This paper is aimed at reviewing the implementation of the Plan 8 years down the line. The efforts of the government to attain self-sufficiency in sugar through the National Sugar Master Plan have yielded little result. Production of sugar in Nigeria is yet to meet domestic demand thereby creating a huge supply gap that is met through import. According to NSDC data, sugar import increased from 955,675 tonnes in 2010 to 1,531,471 tonnes in 2020. The country spent an estimated USD 433.4 million on sugar importation in 2020, an increase from USD 382.3 million in 2019. Challenges of raw materials production include environmental constraints, lack of quality seed cane and suitable varieties, poor irrigation, lack of farm mechanization and poor capital. To improve sugarcane productivity, the cane industry should be restructured to improve efficiency and yields. Measures should also be put in place to promote the establishment of cane mills around the sugar estates and across the sugarcane producing areas. Keywords: Sugar, Sugarcane, Self-Sufficiency, Domestic demand, import, Master Plan DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/82-02 Publication date: January 31st 202