The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) says its sugar development programme is expected to create 110,000 direct and indirect jobs across Nigeria.

The ccouncil’s Executive Secretary, Kamar Bakrin, disclosed this at a news conference organised for the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN) in Abuja.

He said the programme would also support more than one million livelihoods across the sugar value chain.

“When Nigeria grows and processes its own sugarcane, four national priorities move forward together,” Mr Bakrin said.

He identified foreign exchange savings, job creation, rural economic development and reduced greenhouse gas emissions as the programme’s expected benefits.

Mr Bakrin said the council’s Sugarcane Outgrower Development Programme was targeting 11,000 hectares of farmer-grown sugarcane around existing sugar mills.

“The programme is expected to produce about 880,000 tonnes of sugarcane annually, with 7,000 hectares already identified with partners in Kwara, Niger and Adamawa states.

“The first 1,320 hectares will be planted by 2027, with agreements being developed to guarantee markets for participating farmers.

“The income is spread among many farmers rather than a few estates and the expected benefits of the outgrower scheme,” he said.

Mr Bakrin said sugarcane would be ready for harvesting within 12 to 18 months, making the programme a faster route to increased production than building new mills.

“The council is also investing in improved planting materials to increase productivity and support large-scale cultivation. Around 222 hectares of seedcane farms has been established in Kwara, Kano and Oyo states, with an additional 122 hectares planned.

“Together, the farms are expected to produce nearly 19,000 tonnes of certified seedcane for the 2026–2027 planting season,” he said.

Mr Bakrin said the council was developing four nuclear seed farms and providing outgrowers with clean starter seed stock for multiplication.

He also highlighted the adoption of bud-chip technology to reduce the land required for seedling production and accelerate sugarcane planting.

He added, “With that, a 20,000 hectare estate will only need about 260 hectares of nursery. Before now it needed about 6,000, so you can just imagine the huge difference.”

Mr Bakrin said the council had developed capacity to produce about 30 million seedlings using the technology.

He said the Nigeria Sugar Institute had trained 95 professionals in 2026, including 80 certified in basic sugarcane agronomy.

The NSDC boss said another 15 graduate trainees received practical training in field operations and laboratory work.

Mr Bakrin said the programme was expected to strengthen rural economies, create employment opportunities and improve livelihoods through expanded sugarcane farming and processing.

(NAN)