The Sugarcane Growers Association of Malawi (Sugam) has called on the government to wrap up the review of the Sugarcane Industry Bill, which involves the implementation of a regulatory framework for sugarcane production.

Speaking to Malawi News Agency, Sugam chairperson Frighton Njolomole stressed that without a regulator, farmers are not protected as there is no regulator to discover markets. “For example, farmers in Salima and Nkhotakota start growing sugar cane even when they have not secured a steady market for their product.” said Njolomole, “This results in over production of sugar cane. In view of that, we have observed that every year, smallholder farmers carry over their cane to the following year.”

The call to fasten the review of the Sugarcane Industry Bill comes 5 years later since it was drafted in 2015 and it is yet to be presented to Parliament for consideration. The call also follows after Malawi has been urged to diversify her agricultural output, to reap more from the markets.