Representatives of BUA Sugar and Netafim, an Israeli company that specialises in the manufacturing of irrigation equipment have signed an agreement for a Drip Irrigation of 4,000ha at the Lafiagi Sugar Company (LASUCO).
The agreement signing which was witnessed by the Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council, Dr. Latif D. Busari took place in the Board Room of the Council with BUA and Netafim company representatives as well as other sugar stakeholders in attendance.
Earlier in his welcome address, the NSDC boss, Dr. Latif D. Busari commended the BUA Sugar team for its innovativeness adding that by “leveraging on technology BUA is positioning itself to become a low-cost sugar producer, able to compete globally”.
He said though sugar business is capital intensive as investments in the sector often take time to yield returns, but noted that the Nigerian sector is commercially viable and holds lots of opportunities for investors.
“We at the National Sugar Development Council are quite excited that Netafim is coming in strongly into the industry. We are happy about this positive development. It is a right step in the right direction. We shall continue to support and encourage worthy initiative as this”.
In his remarks, the Group Executive Director, BUA Group, Alhaji Kabiru Rabiu thanked the NSDC for its support and facilitation, noting that BUA maintains a good working relationship with the Council.
He said the project is “very important to us at BUA because of its impacts and opportunity to create jobs for our people. LASUCO is very dear to our heart. It is massive and seats on a vast land. The project is probably the most ambitious sugar project in the whole of West Africa. When completed the factory will provide 20 percent of Nigeria’s sugar needs, provides jobs, generate electricity and produce 20 million litres of ethanol”.
In his address, leader of the Netafim team, Mr. Sean Movsowitz, said they are excited to be associated with the project and will give their best as they are not here to just sell technology and disappear, but will partner with BUA to ensure a successful outcome of the project.
In a vote of thanks, Director, Human Resource Management, NSDC, Mr. Samuel Kwabe commended both teams for the honour it accorded the Council and its leadership for choosing its office as venue for the agreement signing ceremony.
Mr. Kwabe who urged both BUA and Netafim to remain faithful to the agreement they both signed, restated Council’s readiness to offer necessary policy support and assistance whenever the need arises.
Netafim is a major producer of drippers, dripperlines, sprinklers and micro-emitters. It also manufactures and distributes crop management technologies, including monitoring and control systems, dosing systems, and crop management software.
