Salima Sugar Company Limited announced on Tuesday that it has hired 2,500 seasonal workers in preparation for the resumption of sugar production on April 16, 2024, following its closure in November 2023.
This announcement was made at the premises of Salima Sugar Company during the official handover of a small-scale farm to the company and the signing of a management agreement between the company and Lingadzi Cooperative in Salima district.
Wester Kosamu, Chairperson of the Greenbelt Authority Board, stated that the company has been undergoing restructuring since terminating its contract with Aum Sugar Co. Ltd.
“We aim to ensure that the company benefits Malawians unlike before. We are reforming our operations to produce a commodity that will be widely available and recognized in the market,” he explained.
Kosamu added that distributorship licenses have been granted to eligible individuals to facilitate the distribution of the commodity once production resumes.
He noted that there were previous concerns about the availability of sugar from Salima on the market, and steps have been taken to address this issue to ensure widespread availability of the commodity across the country upon resumption of production.
“Distributorship contracts are a key strategy aimed at ensuring that the country has a sufficient supply of sugar and effectively addressing the ongoing sugar crisis,” the Chairperson said.
He added: “We anticipate more than 200 small-scale sugarcane farmers under Lingadzi Cooperative to get more profits from their farming activities based on the fact that they will now have the opportunity to negotiate the sale prices of their sugarcane with the company.”
Senior Chief Khombedza said prioritising local communities would assist in bringing sanity in his area and instill a spirit of ownership in surrounding communities not to destroy the farm or encroach the land.
“There was growing tension between surrounding communities because they were not benefitting as anticipated from the company therefore they were becoming violent at times, the farmers lacked the chance to negotiate sugarcane prices as a result getting prices below their expectation,” he disclosed.
Lingadzi Cooperative Chairperson, Yohane Msalira said members of the cooperative could now look forward to better negotiated prices for their sugarcane, leading to improved financial prospects and livelihoods.
With a landholding of around 500 hectares, Lingadzi Cooperative aims to make a significant contribution to Salima Sugar Company’s production activities.
