The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) has donated high-yielding seed cane to the Golden Sugar Company Ltd (GSC) in Sunti, Niger State, ahead of the 2024/2025 planting season.

This presentation is part of the council's efforts to empower sugar operators, boost production, and support the implementation of the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan II (NSMP II) to achieve self-sufficiency in sugar production.

The sugarcane variety, requested by GSC, was presented at the Nigeria Sugar Institute (NSI) in Ilorin. Dr. Abiodun Adeyemo, the Director/Interim Coordinator of NSI, emphasized the significance of high-performing sugarcane varieties and the council's commitment to assisting sugar estates in increasing production.

Dr. Adeyemo highlighted the key characteristics of high-performing sugarcane varieties, including higher yields, resistance to diseases and pests, lower production costs, and environmentally friendly practices, which can transform the sugar industry.

He encouraged GSC to follow best agronomic practices to complement the yield potential of the variety and catalyze the process of yield improvement.

Herman Smith, the Agric Manager at GSC, expressed gratitude for the seed cane for multiplication from NSI germplasm. Mr. M. Venkat, the GSC Agronomy Manager, revealed that they had 120 varieties in their germplasm but did not have this particular variety in their field, and they discovered that it has a higher yield than most of the ones they currently have.