Sugar Council Unveils Sugarcane Outgrower Initiative To Expand Local Output

The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) has unveiled the Sugarcane Outgrower Development Programme (SODP), a flagship initiative aimed at accelerating local sugarcane cultivation and driving Nigeria closer to self-sufficiency in sugar production.

Announcing the programme, the executive secretary/CEO of NSDC, Kamar Bakrin, said the initiative was a key component of the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (NSMP II) and was designed to scale up domestic sugarcane production, reduce the nation’s reliance on imports, and stimulate inclusive economic growth, particularly within rural communities.

According to him, “The SODP is designed to boost local sugarcane cultivation, reduce Nigeria’s dependence on sugar imports, and create opportunities for inclusive economic growth by integrating outgrower farmers into the industry’s supply chain. This programme will complement the output of existing large-scale sugar estates and help close the national supply gap.”

Bakrin further described the initiative as a pioneering milestone in the nation’s sugar sector, saying it represented the first time a structured framework would formally integrate farmers at all levels into the national sugar value chain.

“For the first time, a structured outgrower development programme will formally integrate farmers at all levels into the national sugar value chain. This campaign is about reaching every stakeholder, from large-scale operators to smallholder farmers, and ensuring that everyone has a fair opportunity to contribute to Nigeria’s journey towards self-sufficiency in sugar production,” he said.

He explained that the SODP would empower participating farmers through a series of strategic support measures, including guaranteed offtake agreements to ensure steady market access, access to quality seedcane and inputs, technical support, structured training programmes, and the adoption of sustainable land and water use practices aimed at improving productivity and environmental management.

Providing further insight into the programme’s implementation, the head of Out-Grower Management at NSDC, Lade Offurum, said the SODP would engage three categories of farmers across the country, including agribusinesses and commercial farmers cultivating between 50 and over 500 hectares; farming cooperatives, who can apply as organised clusters of between 30 and 50 hectares; and individual farmers or groups of friends willing to jointly farm clusters of 30 hectares and above.

Offurum noted that the SODP was designed to encourage inclusiveness by opening opportunities for both small and large-scale participants to contribute to Nigeria’s sugar value chain, while benefitting from access to finance, inputs, and technical support under NSDC’s coordination framework.

She said, “The SODP is an important opportunity for farmers, cooperatives, and agribusinesses to become part of the national sugar production drive. The Council is providing a clear framework that ensures every participant big or small, has access to the resources and support they need to succeed.”

She added that interested participants could reach out to the NSDC through their email, website and phone numbers

She also announced that applications for participation in the programme would close on November 21, 2025.

With the launch of the SODP, the NSDC said it was  reinforcing its commitment to the objectives of the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan II (NSMP II), which targets the rapid expansion of local sugarcane production, attraction of new investments into the sector, empowerment of farmers, and advancement of Nigeria’s vision for a globally competitive sugar industry.