President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika on Monday toured Sugar Factory construction under the Greenbelt Initiative and Malawi Mangoes in Salima.

Speaking after touring the factor, Mutharika said the Greenbelt Initiative plans to use the available land and water resources to increase agricultural productivity.

“The Greenbelt Initiative will also play a role in increasing incomes of low-earning households and improve food security at both household and national levels. This sugar factory will directly help in creating wealth because it will increase our exports. Let me emphasize that we are making Malawi a predominantly exporting nation.

“We are also increasing the production of sugar as one way of diversifying our revenue collection,” said Mutharika.

There are basically three major players linked to the investment; Smallholder farmers producing sugarcane on 530 hectares; Medium Scale farmers producing sugarcane on 1500 hectares and the Salima Sugar Company.

This is a joint venture between government and private investors. The company will produce sugarcane on over 4000 hectares and manage the sugar factory.

Mutharika also disclosed that government has decided to transform the Green Belt Initiative into a Public Trust and GBI Holdings Limited Company as a way of giving the masses unparalleled service.

Turning to Malawi Mangoes, Mutharika said the Malawi Mangoes helps in boosting the country’s foreign earning since it’s a major international standard fruit processor in the country.

“Malawi Mangoes is boosting the country’s foreign reserve earnings while diversifying our agricultural export base. There is huge demand out there.
The fruits they are promoting are amongst the most consumed fruits in the world. The global demand for mangoes is growing at about 9% per annum,” said Mutharika.

Mutharika was flanked by the country’s Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima, Minister of Education Science and Technology Dr. Emmanuel Fabiano.