By Bisola Adeyemo
The Zanzibar Sugar Factory (ZSF) management has revealed a good intention to support sugarcane farmers by adopting modern commercial farming.
The good news was announced to Sugarcane farmers, religious leaders, and other stakeholders-community during a meeting with ZSF management.
According to the Chairperson of ZSF, Mr Mahesh Patel, traditional farming and lack of skills have led many farmers to remain poor despite directing their efforts to sugarcane cultivation. “Under the planned program, the factory will enable the smallholder farmers to change their way of farming,” he said.
He also noted that welcoming a commercial farming system will enable farmers to export productions and generate more revenue for the country. Also, farmers will be provided with knowledge of growing other crops such as vegetables and rice which ZSF will buy from the farmers and sell to other people; promising a reliable market.
Mr Patel noted that support for sugarcane farmers follows a survey in all the three regions that found out that the farmers have failed to increase production and income because of maintaining the old ways of farming, despite the fact that Zanzibar has enough resources, including good land. The chairperson said that sugarcane has many benefits, including sugar production and other products such as fertilizers, spirit /alcohol for hospital use, flavours and cosmetics like perfume.
He urged people to give priority to agriculture to increase their income and the country’s economy growth.