Mansa Sugar Limited has projected a deficit in Zambians’ Sugar production by 2030 due to the growth in population and the increase of living standards for most Zambians which is leading to growth in demand for the commodity.
Mansa Sugar Head of Projects and Corporate Affairs Bhupender Rathore says Zambia being a surplus country in sugar production expects a good growth rate in production but that currently, sugar productivity in the country has slowed down.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Rathore said that the estimated and projected deficit of sugar production on the Zambian market is due to the continued improvement in the living standards that Zambians are currently experiencing adding that sugar consumption is mainly dependent on the people’s income generation abilities.
He further stated that Zambia has huge potential to become a hub of sugar production to neighboring countries and that the opportunity can only be seized if the country further improves the sector. He pledged Mansa Sugars’ commitment to continue contributing to the development of the country through job creation and improved forex earnings.
Rathore disclosed that Mansa Sugar Limited currently has over 1,000 local employees and that the company is the largest formal employment contributor in Luapula province. “Being the one of the major economic contributor in Luapula and Chembe district, we have managed to generate employment in Chembe district, a palace which was thought of as being a remote area and literally had no formal employment, however the company has helped improve people’s living standards in the area and the province at large,” he said.
He has however urged locals in the province to seize the developmental opportunities that the province is receiving and that youths should acquire skills to be able to participate in projects being undertaken to avoid being left out giving jobs to other nationals.
Zambia has enjoyed considerable levels of self sufficiency in sugar production and is currently the net exporter of of the sweet commodity. The coming on stream of Mansa Sugar has further boosted the country’s sugar export prospects.
Other major producers in Zambia are Mazabuka’s based and Illovo owned Zambia Sugar, Consolidated Farming Limited and Kasama Sugar.
