Zambia Sugar to engage more smallscale cane outgrowers

Zambia Sugar is to engage more small scale farmers in the growing of sugar cane in Mazabuka during the next phase of the company's expansion programme, corporate affairs manager Lovemore Sievu has said.

Mr Sievu said Zambia Sugar had already co-opted small scale cane growers to participate in the programme under the current expansion programme which runs up to 2012, as a way of supporting growth in the local economy.

“We are particularly pleased with the success of the Kaleya Smallholder scheme of which Zambia Sugar was part of the four original sponsors in 1981. About two years ago, we donated our 25 per cent stake in Kaleya Smallholders company to the Mazabuka Sugar Cane Growers Trust, and the value of the donation was K7 billion ($1.8 million)” he said.

Mr Sievu said that the Mazabuka Sugar Cane Growers Trust had to date accumulated dividends in excess of K4 billion (one million US dollars). The funds were being used to assist small scale sugar cane farmers in the area.

President Mwanawasa officially launched the expansion programme for Nakambala sugar estates in Mazabuka during the week. With the expansion programme, the estate would increase its land from the current 10,500 hectares to 27,000 hectares. More than K840 billion ($217 million) was expected to be spent on the expansion programme.

Times of Zambia