About six billion Naira is being spent on sugar importation in Nigeria to supplement the sugar needs of the country, the Benue State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Eugene Aliegba, has said.
He stated this on Tuesday in Makurdi at the National Sugar Development Summit for the North-Central Zone of the country.
The states that are participating in the summit are Benue, Kwara, Kogi, Plateau, Kaduna and Nasarawa.
Aliegba disclosed that the entire sugar consumption in the country stood at 1.3 metric tonnes, while the local supply was however 1.2 metric tonnes.
“It is then necessary to import, in view of the fact that the local production fell short of the consumption needs of the people,’’ he said.
The commissioner therefore tasked sugar farmers and the Sugar Council to revive sugar? production in the country.
He called for a synergy between sugar processing companies and farmers for the purpose of reviving the sector.
“They need to take advantage of the good vegetation of Benue state to invest in sugar? production,’’ Aliegba said.
Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Investment, Dauda Kigbu, had said the only sector? that could contain the diversification policy of the? government was agriculture.
The Permanent Secretary, who was represented by Mr Garba Bala, therefore charged sugar farmers and the council to take proactive measures in boosting sugar production.
A communique was expected to be issued at the end of the one-day summit.