Lack of factory hindering sugarcane farming in Sokoto

Sokoto is a major sugarcane producer. The produce generates significant income for many farmers in the state. Binjin Muza in Yabo Local Government Area of Sokoto is among the leading sugarcane farming communities in the state. Other notable sugarcane farming communities in the state are Yar Abba, in Wamakko, and Badawa, in Bodinga, local government […]

Sokoto is a major sugarcane producer. The produce generates significant income for many farmers in the state.
Binjin Muza in Yabo Local Government Area of Sokoto is among the leading sugarcane farming communities in the state.
Other notable sugarcane farming communities in the state are Yar Abba, in Wamakko, and Badawa, in Bodinga, local government areas.
Owing to the large-scale sugarcane production in Binjin Muza, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Sokoto State office, considered establishing sugar factory in the village but abandoned the project after it had erected some structures, brought in machinery and mounted a signpost at the proposed factory site.
The administration of then governor  Aliyu Wamakko had in 2014, announced that it provided 33,000 hectares of land for a proposed sugarcane plantation and sugar company in the state in collaboration with Dangote Group of Companies.
Wamakko also said that when completed, the plant would produce 200,000 metric tonnes of sugar per year.
There is fadama land, covering a large part of the village, which enables farmers in Binjin Muza to produce sugarcane in large quantity.
A 50-year-old farmer, Alhaji Umar Mangi, said: “We produce enough sugarcane for the state, especially for Ilela International Market and Goronyo market.”
He said that it took a year to cultivate sugarcane from the day it was planted.
The farmer said he yearly cultivates N1.5 million worth of sugarcane on his farms, adding that sugarcane production is a rewarding business. He said he spent N300, 000 on labour and fertiliser on his farm.
Alhaji Umar who said he has  over 30 years’ experience in sugarcane farming, called on the state government to establish sugar factory in the village.
He called on the government to provide the farmers with adequate fertiliser, pesticides and water pumping machines.
The farmer said: “It is unfortunate that we don’t have industries that can establish business with us. This is limiting our production capacity.
“A major drawback in our business is lack of good road network to transport our goods outside. Not every vehicle can be driven on our road. Government should provide us with good road.”
Another sugarcane farmer, Alhaji Rilwan Dan Danno Binji, 52, who also said he has over  30 years’ experience in sugarcane farming and spends N70,000 on labour and fertiliser, added that he could produce N350,000 to N500,000 worth of sugarcane.
“I spend N30,000 on fertiliser alone because sugarcane needs adequate fertiliser to grow and without it, a farmer risks having all of it drying,” he said.
He called on the state government to hasten the construction of the proposed sugar factory in order to provide employment for youths and enable farmers grow more of the produce.
Another farmer, Alhaji Mani Biye, 50, said he grew sugarcane and got N1.3m profit annually.
He said: “Binjin Muza is the biggest producer of sugarcane but the community doesn’t even have a good road for farmers to transport their produce. Government is equally losing a lot by not constructing a sugar factory in the area because we produce more than enough for consumption.”
At the Ramen Kura Sugarcane Depot in Sokoto, the spokesman of the sugarcane dealers, Alhaji Manir Muhammed Sokoto, said business reached its peak on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
He said the depot received supplies from Yar Abba village in Wamakko Local Government Area and Gayari village in Gummi Local Government Area of Zamfara State and Gwandu in Kebbi State.
Daily Trust  learnt that a truck load of sugarcane with 150 bundles cost about N150, 000, while a bundle of large sticks costs N1,000 and a medium  sized bundle N550
“We off load about 30 trucks of sugarcane daily, all year round. Our market is busy almost throughout the week,” he said.
Alhaji Mohammed said sugarcane hardly perished.
 “It can only dry when over stocked which, in the end, we make firewood out of the lot,” he added.
 A 20-year-old sugarcane seller, Hassan, who uses wheelbarrow to hawk sugarcane, said: “I buy one bundle at N1,100 or N1,300 and at the end of the day, I get N500 or N1,000.”
Another sugarcane hawker, Musa Mohammed, 23, said: “The business is rewarding as I feed myself and still send some money to my parents at home.”