By Glory Msowoya
The Sugarcane Growers Association of Malawi (SUGAM) has appealed to government to fast-track the review of the Sugarcane Industry Bill in a bid to protect sugarcane farmers in the country.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) in Blantyre, Sunday, Chairperson for SUGAM, Frighton Njolomole said currently the sugarcane industry has been operating without a regulatory framework to govern the industry which was posing a threat to farmers.
“We are calling on the Ministry of Industry and Trade as secretariat for the sugarcane product technical working group where the sugarcane regulatory framework is discussed to impress the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to expedite the review of the bill and pass it into law that will protect farmers in the country,” he said.
Njolomole added the absence of the Sugarcane Industry Bill; the sustainable growth of smallholder sugarcane production is being compromised each and every year.
“For example, farmers in Salima and Nkhotakota start growing sugarcane even when they have not secured a steady market for their product. This results in overproduction of sugarcane. In view of that, we have observed that every year, smallholder farmers carry over their cane to the following year,” he said.
Spokesperson in the Ministry Industry and Trade, Mayeso Msokera said the Ministry was working hand in hand with the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to ensure that vetting of the bill was expedited and finalized.
He said government expects the sugar bill would effectively address some of the gaps in the sugarcane industry.
“As government, we are still working on the bill and after finalizing all the needed procedures; the bill will be sent to cabinet committee for consideration and thereafter to parliament for enactment.
“Government believes that the bill will address some of the issues happening around sugarcane industry by regulating the industry including the management of disputes between millers and growers arising from cane supply agreement.
“To add on that, there will be an improvement on transparency and accountability operations of the value chain players and strengthening the position of the perceived weaker industry stakeholders,” Msokera added.
The Sugarcane Industry Bill was drafted in 2015 and it is yet to be presented to parliament for consideration.
