THE plan by the Federal Government to implement a 10-year National Sugar Master Plan ostensibly to make Nigeria self-sufficient in sugar production is curious and ill-advised. It appears to be based on ad hoc notion when a more holistic approach to developing agriculture wouldhave made sense. To ignore a host of other agricultural products and target sugar alone is insensitive to the declining reality of the agricultural sector and the country's consequent dependence on importation of her main staple foods.The question is why sugar alone and not rice, maize, wheat, cassava, yam, among other key agric food products that the country badly needs. Government should demonstrate practical commitment to revamping the agricultural sector and not take half-hearted measures as borne out of its plan with sugar. What is the rationale for picking sugar' Or, is this a subtle attempt to put money into some people's pocket'All the reasons adduced as to why the country should not depend on imported sugar, including saving the nation huge importation costs also apply to the other products. It is not only on sugar that the country is expending billions of naira annually through importation. It is the same with rice, wheat, among others. And so, why single out sugar'There is no hiding the fact that there is a vested monopolistic interest in sugar in this country. Government should be doing more to reduce the danger of monopoly and not entrench it. Any attempt to boost the production of the commodity, without similar consideration for other vital agricultural products would likely serve parochial interest and deepen the monopoly on sugar. Nigerians stand to lose in the long run.Government should stop playing hide and seek with agriculture and instead do what is right. There should be a deliberate effort to improve the sector that has been comatose for more than three decades. This is a must if the country sincerely wants to leverage on economic prosperity. The country will hardly make progress by depending on food importation instead of developing local capacity to feed its teeming population. No great nation anywhere in the world depends on importation for its staple foods. The national sugar master plan should be expanded to include the other key agric products.Labaran Maku, the Minister of Information and his counterpart in the Ministry of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, while briefing journalists after a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, disclosed that the council approved a 10-year National Sugar Master Plan (NSMP), aimed at making Nigeria self-sufficient in sugar production, as well as saving about $350 million in import costs. He explained that Nigeria is the fourth largest importer of sugar in the world.According to Maku, whereas Nigeria produces only 3 per cent of its sugar consumption, while importing the rest at over N100 billion annually, the master plan would among other things create 107,000 direct jobs. With a projected annual production of 1.79 million tons of sugar, the country would derive 161.2 million ethanol; 400 megawatts of electricity and 1.6million tons of annual feeds. Part of the incentives to implement the plan, Maku disclosed, is the approval of zero per cent duty on importation of machineries required to process the raw materials, as well as support the three existing sugar companies in the country.Undoubtedly, a renewed sugar production initiative has inherent benefits. Similar benefits would also accrue if the plan is extended to the other products. A re-invigorated agric sector would do more. It would boost industrial production, create more jobs, and reduce hunger and poverty by enhancing people's livelihood. Arguably, the mass poverty in the land is attributable to the abandonment of agriculture. The hordes of able-bodied youths in the cities engaged in commercial motorcycling and other disguised employment, as well as crimes would have been gainfully employed in agriculture and agro-based industries if the sector were productive. The country is faced with a troubling situation where families cannot afford to feed themselves reasonably, because of the high cost of food. It is along these lines that government should think and act accordingly.It is pointless for government to envisage establishing large sugarcane plantations in an effort to boost sugar production. This is better done by the private sector. Government should leave private concerns to establish sugarcane plantations and also produce the sugar. It could encourage the sector by grant of incentives such as tax relief and reduction or removal of import duties as it has already proposed. The entire country is suitable for the production of different kind of crops. A 10-year agric master plan, faithfully implemented, would bring the country close to the threshold of industrial transformation.
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